Billiard table apparatus for competitive play at remote locations

Abstract

An arrangement adapted to be used with conventional billiard tables for greater utilization, versatility and/or application of said tables, said arrangement including, a multiplicity of billiard tables located at a variety of separate locations, a means to register and allow for communication between a plurality of players, such that said players need not necessarily play upon the same table nor be located at the one location, said players intended to compete against other registered players, or approve upon personal individual skill level, a timer such that competition between players or improvement of personal standings of an individual is based upon timing of pocketing a set of balls or part thereof upon the respective billiard table by said, timer, a means for having time results of the or each player transferred to a central database wherein individual player's times and standings may then be acknowledged.

Claims

1. A billiard table apparatus including: a first billiard table having a plurality of pockets and located at a first location; a second billiard table having a plurality of pockets and located at a separate physical location; means for registering a plurality of players at said first location and said second location to thereby define registered players: means for providing real time audio and video communication to provide audio and visual display of a billiard game between a registered player playing on said first billiard table at said first location and a registered player playing on said second billiard table at said second location, such that the a registered player at said first location and a registered player at said second location may can communicate with each other via audio voice and view video; a sensor located at each respective pocket of each plurality of pockets of said first and second billiard tables, said sensors sensing when a ball is pocketed in a respective pocket, and said sensors being in communication with a central server to transmit to said central server time results relating to pocketing of balls on the first billiard table by the registered player at said first location and pocketing of balls on the second billiard table by the registered player at said second location such that individual player's times and standings are then accessible.

2. The arrangement of claim 1 further including a camera arrangement at each location such that each playing surface of each of the respective first billiard table and second billiard table is under visual observation during competition so that players may not artificially or even unintentionally pocket balls or throw balls into pockets that are not intended within the spirit of the overall requirements of the game competition.

3. The arrangement of claim 2, including a further camera arrangement at each location adapted to view surroundings of the first billiard table and the second billiard table including the players or the audience or both.

4. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the means for providing real time audio and video communication between the registered plurality of players includes an overhead control unit above each of the first billiard table and second billiard table, wherein the overhead control unit is adapted to project icons onto the respective first billiard table and second billiard table to which the players of the registered plurality of players can then select particular options therefrom.

5. The arrangement of claim 4, wherein the players of the registered plurality of players can register online at a provided website and pay a fee allowing access to the location.

6. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the time results transmitted to the central server relating to pocketing of balls on the first billiard table by the registered player at said first location and pocketing of balls on the second billiard table by the registered player at said second location include the interval or period of time taken to pot a set or part thereof of balls on the first billiard table and the second billiard table and the interval of time cumulatively for each ball that is being pocketed on the respective first billiard table and second billiard table.

7. The arrangement of claim 1 further comprising a clock display runnable down or up.

8. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the timer includes music and words to a song, wherein the song is selectable by the players of the registered plurality of players.

Description

(1) In order to describe the invention now in greater detail a series of preferred embodiments will be presented with the assistance of the following illustrations and accompanying text.

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of the arrangement in a preferred embodiment of this invention.

(3) FIG. 2 shows preferred embodiment of the invention which includes the independent console which provides virtual interaction between players, the administration main frame and if required real time access to other locations to which the arrangement is provided for.

(4) FIG. 3 shows a preferred embodiment where the sensor includes sensing mounts on the respective pockets of the billiard table in order to time the amount of time elapsed in pocketing a set of balls or part thereof as part of the overall arrangement.

(5) FIG. 4 is a schematic representation showing some of the features of the arrangement but most particularly focusing on the aspect of the payment means when a player accesses the billiard table to commence competition.

(6) FIGS. 5a, 5b and 5c show a variety of sets of balls that can be used with the arrangement.

(7) FIG. 6 is a schematic of a cheering crowd in background with player on table and a compare with hand held microphone spurring on the player.

(8) Referring to the drawings now in greater detail where there is provided an arrangement 10 of which allows a conventional billiard table 13, 14 to be placed at separate locations but to be interactively connected through a central administration database, so that the players 20, 22 and players 30, 32 at separate physical locations are interacting with each other in a competitive environment either for fun and/or both championship purposes.

(9) The billiard table includes a cloth felt cover 14 and respective pockets 18 that run a long the peripheral edge of the table 12.

(10) While the billiard tables 13, 14 in some part are conventional in nature, in the preferred embodiment they are purposely provided in order to have inherently adapted within those various features that make the arrangement to be discussed in greater detail below work more efficiently.

(11) For example it would be expected that the billiard tables include timing sensors and the like such that the period of time in which the set of balls 16 (being 15 coloured balls and 1 cue ball) or a part thereof can be pocketed from the table by the respective players.

(12) For some embodiments all championship competitions would be played with a set of 19 coloured balls and 1 cue ball. The extra four balls add to the challenge for top players who could pot the standard 15 balls in a very short period of time.

(13) Tables would be fitted with both a 15 ball and a 19 ball set of balls. Players will have the option of playing a standard game or practice for championship competitions.

(14) 24 ball sets could also be available to advanced players looking to further test their endurance and skills.

(15) As can be visualised from the schematic in FIG. 1 the billiard table 13, 14 at the separate locations also has in close proximity consoles 23 and 24 that act as a gateway to interconnect the separate locations into the one virtual billiard world environment.

(16) While the registration procedure of the respective players is essential to the invention, the means in which registration takes place is not important, but what can be envisaged from FIG. 1 is that players location A shown as 11 and location B shown as 17 in the illustration interact with the respective console's 23 and 24.

(17) Whether the players access the console through a registration card or from an issued identification and can type password is irrelevant to the general scope and importance of the invention, the point remains that these players through the port hole provided for by the respective consoles 23 and 24 are now communicating with players at a separate location so that all players now upon and form part of one particular pool of players all sharing the same interest to play the game of billiards and to compete either between themselves or even individually to improve their timing.

(18) In FIG. 1 location B is visually viewable at location A by virtue of the television screen 31 mounted on the wall at location 11.

(19) The console 24 as been discussed in greater detail in connection with FIG. 2 as a touch screen 26 as well as a timer detailer 34.

(20) In order to stop any players inadvertently circumventing any of the timing arrangements in order to record the amount of time required to play the game the close circuit television 36 is also installed and included as part of the arrangement at location A and B respectively.

(21) Referring to FIG. 2 the console 38 has various touch screen options shown generally as 40, 42 and 44 which can provide a variety of accessible information as to the game options, locations in which competitions can take place, and virtually any other information about the entire set up arrangement for players to partake in the process.

(22) In some embodiments the console will also allow players to register directly as there will be wireless Internet access from the console directly to central administration base responsible for interconnecting each of the respective locations.

(23) Shown generally as 48 there is a speaker but again the person skilled in the art would appreciate that the console itself could in fact perform just as many functions as one would expect from a traditional juke box and hence not only is there the bringing together of the billiard game concept in the global community environment but also the added excitement and adrenalin one associates with music when involved in physical activity such as playing the game of billiards.

(24) Hence in some preferred embodiments the console which provides that gateway to link all the respective players into the registered pool can also double up as being a jukebox.

(25) In some instances tables could be fitted with speakers. A pulsating table with speakers situated around it may add extra vibrancy to performances.

(26) FIG. 3 shows again schematically just one of literally scores of embodiments with respect to how one might record timing features as balls are being pocketed during the game.

(27) In this embodiment each pocket 52 includes sensors 56 which are able to recognise a ball 54 being potted on the table 50.

(28) The same to do with FIG. 4 again it just represents one option or preferred embodiment of the invention which should not be considered the only nor indeed the broadest form of the invention.

(29) In this particular embodiment it focuses more on the aspect of how when a player plays a game that money provided for can be separated into various pools or funds such as for example part of the payment can go to a championship pool 62 whereby a player could win a championship 66 or alternatively players funds could go to a lottery based funding 62 where a player could receive a jackpot or the like or alternatively even part of the payment 64 can go to the location to where the table has been installed.

(30) FIG. 5a shows a standard triangle 66 of a set of 15 balls shown as 68. FIG. 5b shows a hexagonal 70 with a set of 19 balls shown as 72. FIG. 5c shows a bracket 74 containing a set of 24 balls shown as 76 that could also be available for advanced players. In this embodiment the cue ball 78 sits outside the bracket as shown.

(31) As discussed above players representing their country in competitions could opt to play with balls with their country's colours and flag inscribed. Thus adding a patriotic feel to games.

(32) FIG. 6 is a schematic of a cheering crowd 80 in background with player on table and a compare 82 with hand held microphone spurring on the player.

(33) As introduced above the advantages of splitting the amount of money paid for playing the game means that players can be involved in championships, win a lottery but also those places funding the table also receive a greater return as the game encourages more people the playing on the table and therefore their returns from having that particular table in their premises utilising the arrangement will give them a greater return.

(34) Advantageously also to the location where the table is installed as it will have a greater ability to draw people in to use the table and at the same time they can also then be enjoying other services, such as food and drinks provided for by the location as the game of this modern day billiards unfolds.

(35) The location can partake in communications and associated activities of a sporting and entertainment concept. A concept that has the potential to reach and unite people from around the world.