Abstract
An aiming device for pocket billiards comprises a strip. The strip has a length equal to a distance between a pair of interval markers of a plurality of interval markers on a plurality of rails of a pocket billiards table. There are a plurality of markings along a longitudinal direction of the strip. The strip is removably placeable on any of the rails between any of the pairs of interval markers.
Claims
1. An aiming device for pocket billiards, comprising: a strip having a length equal to a distance between a pair of interval markers of a plurality of interval markers on a plurality of rails of a pocket billiards table; and a plurality of markings along a longitudinal direction of the strip, the strip is removably placeable on any of the rails between any of the pairs of interval markers.
2. The aiming device of claim 1, wherein the markings are evenly spaced from one another along the longitudinal direction.
3. The aiming device of claim 1, wherein the strip has a length of approximately 11 inches to approximately 12.3 inches along the longitudinal direction.
4. The aiming device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of markings include a first interval of markings on a front surface of the strip and a second interval of markings on a back surface of the strip.
5. The aiming device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of markings include a first interval of markings and a second interval of markings on a same surface of the strip.
6. The aiming device of claim 1, wherein the strip is translucent or opaque.
7. The aiming device of claim 1, wherein the strip is a polymer material.
8. The aiming device of claim 1, wherein the strip has a length along the longitudinal direction that is greater than a width in a width direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.
9. The aiming device of claim 1, wherein the strip is flexible.
10. The aiming device of claim 1, wherein the strip is rigid.
11. The aiming device of claim 1, wherein the strip is monolithically formed as a single piece.
12. The aiming device of claim 1, wherein the markings of the strip include a first set of markings that increase in value along the longitudinal direction and a second set of markings that decrease in value along the longitudinal direction.
13. A method for using an aiming device for pocket billiards, comprising: positioning a first strip having a length equal to a distance between a pair of interval markers of a plurality of interval markers on a plurality of rails of a pocket billiards table between the pair of interval markers, the first strip is removably placeable on the rails; deciding a player target location on the pocket billiards table to hit a cue ball toward; using a plurality of markings along a longitudinal direction of the first strip and the pair of interval markers to determine what location the cue ball is at on the pocket billiards table; determining where to aim the cue ball to make it move toward the player target location; positioning a second strip having a same length as the first strip between a different pair of interval markers of the plurality of interval markers where the cue ball is to be aimed, the second strip is removably placeable on the rails; using a plurality of markings along a longitudinal direction of the second strip to determine where to hit the cue ball to make it move toward the player target location; and repositioning the first strip and the second strip between the plurality of interval markers based on a position of the cue ball after it is hit and where the cue ball is to be aimed for a subsequent shot.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the markings of the first strip and the second strip are spaced evenly.
15. A pocket billiards aiming system, comprising: a pocket billiards table having a plurality of interval markers on a plurality of rails; and an aiming device having: a length equal to a distance between a pair of interval markers of the interval markers; and a plurality of markings along a longitudinal direction of the aiming device, the aiming device is removably placeable on any of the rails between any of the interval markers.
16. The system of claim 15, wherein the markings are evenly spaced from one another along the longitudinal direction.
17. The system of claim 15, wherein the pocket billiards table has a length of approximately 4 feet to approximately 9 feet.
18. The system of claim 15, wherein the markings include a first set of markings that increase in value along the longitudinal direction and a second set of markings that decrease in value along the longitudinal direction.
19. The system of claim 15, wherein the aiming device directly contacts the rail.
20. The system of claim 15, wherein the aiming device is removably placeable on any of the rails in its entirety.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying figures, of which:
[0006] FIG. 1 is a plan view of an aiming device for pocket billiards according to an embodiment of the invention;
[0007] FIG. 2 is a side view of the aiming device of FIG. 1;
[0008] FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of a pocket billiards table according to an embodiment;
[0009] FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view of a pocket billiards table according to an embodiment with the aiming device;
[0010] FIG. 5 is another schematic plan view of a pocket billiards table according to an embodiment with the aiming device; and
[0011] FIG. 6 is another schematic plan view of a pocket billiards table according to an embodiment with the aiming device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT(S)
[0012] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described hereinafter in detail with reference to the attached drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements. The present invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that the present disclosure will convey the concept of the invention to those skilled in the art.
[0013] An aiming device 10 for pocket billiards according to an embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 1-2 and 4-6. The pocket billiards aiming device 10 comprises a strip 110 and a plurality of markings 120.
[0014] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-2, the strip 110 has a first end 131 and a second end 132 opposite to the first end 131. The strip 110 also has a front surface 133 and a back surface 134 opposite to the front surface 133. The strip 110 in the shown embodiment has an approximately rectangular shape. In other embodiments, the shape may be any shape known to those with ordinary skill in the art and suitable for use as an aiming device for pocket billiards.
[0015] The strip 110 has a length L along a longitudinal direction LD, a width W in a width direction WD perpendicular to the longitudinal direction LD, as shown in FIG. 1, and a thickness T in a thickness direction TD, as shown in FIG. 2. The thickness direction TD is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction LD and the width direction WD. In an embodiment, the length L is at least 10 times greater than the width W. In other embodiments, the length L may be at least 1.3 times greater than the width W. In the shown embodiment, the length L of the strip 110 may be approximately 11 inches to approximately 12.3 inches. The width W of the strip 110 may be approximately 1 inch. In other embodiments the length L may be up to 9 feet, and the width W may be up to 7.5 inches. In the shown embodiment, the thickness T is 0.0625 inches. In other embodiments, the thickness T could be up to 1 inch. The length L, width W, and thickness T are not to be construed as limited by the above exemplary embodiments and can be any length L, width W, or thickness T. Throughout the specification, the term approximately is intended to mean within 10% of the described numerical value or the described numerical ends of the range.
[0016] In an embodiment, the strip 110 may be formed of any polymer material. In other embodiments, the strip 110 may be formed of any other type of material, such as leather or metal. The strip 110 may be translucent or, in other embodiments, may be transparent or opaque. In the present embodiment, the strip 110 is flexible and monolithically formed as a single piece, but the strip 110 may be rigid and/or formed into multiple pieces in other embodiments. The strip 110 may be formed using any material or combinations of materials known by those having ordinary skill in the art and may be either flexible or rigid.
[0017] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-2 and 4-6, the markings 120 of the strip 110 include a plurality of English numbers ranging from 0-10 increasing or decreasing in value by 1, and a plurality of lines corresponding to the numbers that extend across the width W of the strip 110 in the width direction WD. In another embodiment, the markings 120 are a plurality of English numbers ranging from 0-20 increasing or decreasing in value by 2, with the lines extending across the width W of the strip 110. In yet another embodiment, the markings 120 comprise a plurality of roman numerals, and the lines only partially extend across the width W of the strip 110. In yet another example, the markings 120 are a plurality of whole English numbers ranging in value with half, third, or quarter English numbers between whole English numbers. The markings 120, in various other embodiments, may be anything denoting an increase or decrease in order, which may or may not include lines that stretch partially or fully across the width W of the strip 110.
[0018] In the present embodiment, the markings 120 are evenly spaced from one another along the longitudinal direction LD, as shown in FIG. 1. In the present embodiment, the markings 120 include a first set of markings 121 that increase in value along the longitudinal direction LD and a second set of markings 122 that decrease in value along the longitudinal direction LD. In another embodiment, there are only one set of markings 120 that increase or decrease in value along the longitudinal direction LD. In yet another embodiment the markings 120 do not denote an ordering.
[0019] As shown in FIG. 1, the markings 120 of the present embodiment are on the front surface 133 of the strip 110. In other embodiments, the markings 120 may also or alternatively be on the back surface 134 of the strip 110. The markings 120 may be at different even intervals for pocket billiards tables 20 that have different lengths, as described in greater detail below; the strip 110 may have markings 120 on the front surface 133 that are at a different interval than markings 120 on the back surface 134. In another embodiment, two sets of markings 120 having different intervals for tables 20 of different length may be disposed on the same surface 133, 134 of the strip 110.
[0020] The markings 120 according to the current embodiment are flush on the front surface of the strip 110. In another embodiment, the markings 120 may be raised or embossed on the front surface of the strip 110. In other embodiments, the markings may be any combination of flush, raised, or embossed in one or more of the front surface 133 and/or the back surface 134 of the strip 110.
[0021] A pocket billiards table 20 is shown in FIGS. 3-6. The pocket billiards table 20 comprises a playing surface 1, a plurality of rails 210 that surround the playing surface 1, and a plurality of pockets 230 that at least partially intersect the rails 210. The pocket billiards table 20, in an embodiment, has a length of approximately 4 feet to approximately 9 feet.
[0022] As shown in FIGS. 3-6, some of the rails 210 have a length L along the longitudinal direction LD, and other rails 210 have a length L along the width direction WD perpendicular to the longitudinal direction LD. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, some of the rails 210 have a first end and a second end along the longitudinal direction LD, and other rails 210 have a first end and a second end along the width direction WD. The rails 210 have a top surface 211 and a side surface 212 perpendicular to the top surface 211. The rails 210 in the shown embodiment have an approximately rectangular shape.
[0023] The rails 210 have a plurality of interval markings 220 along a respective length L or L which are positioned between the respective first end and the respective second end. The interval markings 220 are evenly spaced along the respective length L or L of each of the rails 210. As shown in FIGS. 3-6, the interval markings 220 have a location number range from 0-80 on a left rail and a right rail having lengths L, and a location number range of 100-160 for a top rail and a bottom rail having lengths L. As used herein the term location number means a number representative of a relative location along the length of the rail between the ends of the rail at which there is an interval marking 220 and/or a center of each pocket 230; the location number itself is not indicated on the rails 210. For reference, as shown in FIGS. 4-6, the location numbers are shown in correspondence with the interval markings 220 or pockets 230 as a number with an underline. In another embodiment, the location number range of the interval markings 220 are a location number range other than 0-80 on the left rail and the right rail having lengths L, and a location number range other than 100-160 for the top rail and the bottom rail having lengths L. In yet another embodiment, numbers other than a multiple of 10 are used for the location numbers for the interval markings 220.
[0024] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3-6, the pockets 230 have a circumference large enough for each of a plurality of billiards balls to fall through or into. The plurality of balls comprises a plurality of numbered balls, each referred to as an object ball 3 herein, and a cue ball 2. Each object ball 3 and the cue ball 2 sit on the playing surface 1.
[0025] As shown in FIGS. 4-6, the present invention further relates to a method for using the aiming device 10 on the pocket billiards table 20. The method comprises a first step of positioning the aiming device 10 between the pair of interval markers 221 and 222 of the closest adjacent rail 210 that the cue ball 2 is between. Positioning the aiming device 10 may comprise: (i) placing the aiming device 10 on the top surface 211 of the rails 210 between the interval markings 221 and 222; and (ii) aligning the length of the aiming device 10 with a respective length L or L of the rails 210. When the aiming device 10 is placed on the rails 210, the back surface 134 of the aiming device 10 directly contacts the top surface 211 of the rails 210. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the aiming device 10 is placed on a left rail 210 with length L between the interval marking 221 with the location number 60 and the interval marking 222 with the location number 50.
[0026] The method comprises a second step of deciding a player target location (hereinafter the PTL) on the pocket billiards table 20 of where to hit the cue ball 2. As used herein the term PTL means the coordinate number or the location number where the player wants to hit the cue ball 2. As used herein, the term coordinate number means a number that is between the pair of location numbers of the pair of interval markings 221 and 222 and/or 223 and 224; if the location number is in intervals of 10, the coordinate number is in smaller intervals, for example intervals of 1, between the location numbers. For example, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the PTL is the bottom left pocket 230 that intersects the left rail 210 with length L, and has a location number 0.
[0027] As shown in FIG. 4, the method comprises a third step of using the plurality of markings 120 of the aiming device 10 and the location numbers of the pair of interval markers 221 and 222 to determine what location the cue ball 2 is at on the pocket billiards table 20. Determining a first coordinate number that the cue ball 2 is at on the pocket billiards table comprises: (i) finding the number that the cue ball 2 is in line with on the aiming device 10; and (ii) either adding the number from step (i) to the lower of the location numbers of the pair of interval markings 221 and 222 or subtracting the number from step (i) from the higher location number of the pair of interval markings 221 and 222. Thus, as shown in the example in FIG. 4, the first coordinate number is 57 which is indicated in FIG. 4 by the number 57 with an underline. For reference, all coordinate numbers with an underline between the pair of interval markings 221 and 222 shown in further figures is an indication of the first coordinate number of the respective example.
[0028] The method comprises a fourth step of determining a second coordinate number of another rail 210 to aim the cue ball 2 toward in order to hit the cue ball 2 to make it move toward the PTL. When the location number of the target for the cue ball 2 to be hit toward is 0, as in the pocket 230 in the example of FIG. 4, the second coordinate number the cue ball 2 is to be aimed toward is determined by dividing the first coordinate number by 2 and rounding to the nearest whole number. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the second coordinate number on the right rail 210 is 29 which is indicated in FIG. 4 by the number 29 with an underline. For reference, all coordinate numbers with an underline between the pair of interval markings 223 and 224 shown in further figures is an indication of the second coordinate number of the respective example. In other embodiments, the rounding can alternatively be omitted.
[0029] Once the second coordinate number is determined, the method comprises a fifth step of positioning an aiming device 10 between the pair of interval markings 223 and 224 that the second coordinate number is between. The aiming device 10 is identical to the aiming device 10 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Positioning the aiming device 10 comprises: (i) placing the aiming device 10 on the top surface 211 of the rails 210 between the interval markings 223 and 224; and (ii) aligning the length L of the aiming device 10 with a respective length L or L of the rail 210. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the aiming device 10 is placed on the top surface 211 of the right rail 210 with length L between the interval marking 223 with the location number 40 and the interval marking 224 with the location number 30. The aiming device 10 is used to help the player align the shot with the second coordinate number; in the example shown in FIG. 4, the player aims the shot in alignment with the second coordinate number 29 on the right rail 210 and does so more precisely by using the aiming devices 10, 10.
[0030] Once the fifth step is complete, the player can make a bank shot or a kick shot by hitting the cue ball 2. As used herein, a bank shot means a shot that occurs when the cue ball 2 is hit into the object ball 3, the object ball 3 after being hit by the cue ball 2 then hits into the side surface 212 of the respective rail 210 thereby causing the object ball 3 to move toward the pocket 230 or move toward a different PTL. As used herein, a kick shot means a shot that occurs when the cue ball 2 is hit into one of the side surfaces 212 of the rails 210 and then bounces off of the side surface 212 into the object ball 3 thereby causing the object ball 3 to move toward the pocket 230 or move toward a PTL. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the player would be making a bank shot as the player would first hit the cue ball 2 into the object ball 3 which would then bounce off of the side surface 212 of the right rail 210 with length L, at the second coordinate number 29 determined by using the aiming devices 10, 10, thereby causing the object ball 3 to move toward the PTL (the pocket 230 in FIG. 4).
[0031] After the player hits the cue ball 2, the method comprises a sixth step of repositioning the aiming device 10 and the aiming device 10 by repeating all the above steps but for a new position of the cue ball 2 after the player hits the cue ball 2 after the fifth step. However, as described in more detail below for FIGS. 5 and 6, the first and fourth steps may be modified depending on: (i) the rail 210 the cue ball 2 is adjacent to; and (ii) if the coordinate or location number the cue ball is decided to be hit toward is greater than 0. The aiming device 10 and the aiming device 10 are removably placeable on any of the rails 210 in their entirety. For example, when the player repositions the aiming device 10, the aiming device 10, or an aiming device 10 as described in more detail below (hereinafter the Aiming Devices), they can pick up the aiming device 10, the aiming device 10, and/or the aiming device 10 without any of the Aiming Devices being left on the rails 210.
[0032] In another example, as shown in FIG. 5, the PTL is the middle pocket 230 that intersects the left rail 210 with length L at location number 40 along the left rail 210. In this example the first, second, third, fifth, and sixth steps are identical as described above. The fourth step, however, is different in this example. In this example the second coordinate number is determined by the following steps: (i) subtracting the first coordinate number from the PTL; (ii) dividing the resulting number from step (i) by 2 and rounding to the nearest whole number; and (iii) adding the first coordinate number and the resulting number from step (ii) together to determine the second coordinate number. In the example shown in FIG. 5, the first coordinate number is 4 and the PTL is the pocket 230 that partially intersect the left rail 210 with length L at location number 40. Thus, as shown in FIG. 5, the number from step (i) is 36, the number from step (ii) is 18, and the second coordinate number (the resulting number from step (iii)) is 22. As shown in FIG. 5, the player aims the shot toward second coordinate number 22 indicated by the aiming device 10 on the right rail 210.
[0033] In another example, as shown in FIG. 6, the closest adjacent rail 210 to the cue ball 2 is the top rail 210 with the length L. The PTL in this example is the right middle pocket 230 that intersects the right rail 210 with length L at location number 40. In this example the second, third, fifth, and sixth steps are identical as described above. The first step and the fourth step, however, are different. The first step for this example is identical except that the aiming device 10 may be used instead of the aiming device 10. The aiming device 10 is identical to the aiming device 10 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 except that the markings 120 are the plurality of English numbers ranging from 0-20 increasing or decreasing in value by 2 as described above. Alternatively, the aiming device 10 can be used in this example by doubling the number that the cue ball 2 is in line with on the aiming device 10 for any of the above steps in which a number from the aiming device 10 is used.
[0034] In keeping with this example, and as shown in FIG. 6, the fourth step is different than the fourth step above for the examples shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. In this example the second coordinate number is determined by the following steps: (i) dividing the first coordinate number by 2 and rounding to the nearest whole number; (ii) dividing the PTL by 4 and rounding to the nearest whole number; and (iii) adding the resulting numbers from steps (i) and (ii) together. In the example shown in FIG. 6, the first coordinate number is 122 and the desired location number to hit the cue ball 2 toward is 40. Thus, as shown in FIG. 6, the resulting number from step (i) is 61, the resulting number from step (ii) is 10, and the second coordinate number (the resulting number from step (iii)) is 71. As shown in FIG. 6, the player aims the shot toward the second coordinate number 71 indicated by the aiming device 10 or the aiming device 10 on the left rail 210.
[0035] When the cue ball 2 does not align directly with one of the interval markings 220, and instead lies between two interval markings 220, the player hitting the cue ball 2 into the object ball 3 does so imprecisely which could lead to poorly aimed shots. However, as described above, and shown in FIGS. 4-6, the Aiming Devices allow the player to hit the cue ball 2 more precisely into the object ball 3 when the cue ball 2 is not directly aligned with one of the interval markings 220. A player using the Aiming Devices for bank shots or kick shots will make more precise shots thereby improving their ability to hit the plurality of numbered balls into the pockets 230. Further, the ease of removability of the Aiming Devices in their entireties off the rails 210 allows for easily moving the Aiming Devices from rail to rail on the billiards table 20 and for using the Aiming Devices on different billiards tables without leaving behind parts of the Aiming Devices or damaging the rails 210.
