Illuminated pool game apparatus

• US 5,653,640 A
• Filed: 05/06/1996
• Issued: 08/05/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Roy J. Shirley Jr
• Original Assignee: Roy J. Shirley Jr
• Inventors: Shirley, Roy J. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Theatrice
• Application Number:
  US08/642,930
• Time in Patent Office: 456 Days
• Field of Search: 273/DIG. 24, 273/58 R, 273/586, 473/354, 473/2
• US Class Current: 473/2
• CPC Class Codes: A63D 15/00 Billiards, e.g. carom billiards or pocket billiards; Billiard tables bagatelle A63D13/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63D 15/08 Cues

Abstract

An illuminated pool game including balls each with a spherical shell and hollow spherical interior space. Also included is a plurality of optic fibers having an associated light located within the interior space of each ball. Each optic fiber includes a first end in communication with the interior space of the ball and a second end in communication with an outer surface of the ball for emitting light therefrom. Also included is a pool table comprising a multiplicity of light units each secured within an associated bore formed below a playing surface thereof. Such light units include both motion detection and timer circuitry for simulating an illuminated trail when a ball is rolled thereon. The table further includes a transparent peripheral bumper including a plurality of bulbs for the illumination thereof. A ball return cut out is formed on a side portion of the pool table. The ball return cut out comprises an optic fiber situated along a periphery thereof for illuminating the same. Finally, an elongated pool cue with a tip end and a handle end is included. The pool cue comprises an optic fiber longitudinally situated therein with an associated light for emitting light from the tip end of the cue via the optic fiber.

Claims

1. A new and improved illuminated pool game comprising, in combination:

a plurality of balls each comprising a spherical shell with a hollow spherical interior, the shell including a first half and a second half both equivalently sized and screwably coupled and a plurality of optic fibers each with a first end in communication with an outer surface of the shell and a second end in communication with an inner surface of the shell whereby the fibers are adapted to emit light from the outer surface of the shell upon the application of light to the second end thereof, each ball further comprising a tripod brace having a first leg coupled to the inner surface of the first half of the shell and a pair of remaining legs adapted to abut the inner surface of the second half when the halves are screwably fixed, a light emitting diode coupled to an apex of the brace, and a battery electrically coupled to the light emitting diode for allowing the light emitting diode to apply light to the second end of each optic fiber;

a pool table comprising a flat playing surface with a multiplicity of light units each secured within an associated bore formed below a top plane of the playing surface, each light unit including a transparent lens situated in a top portion of each bore and flush with the top plane of the playing surface, a light adjacently situated below the lens and adapted to emit light upon the activation thereof, a motion sensor also adjacently situated below the lens for generating a detection signal upon the detection of motion on the playing surface, and timer circuitry electrically connected to the light emitting diode, motion sensor, and a power bus situated beneath the playing surface for activating the associated light for a predetermined amount of time upon the receipt of the detection signal;

a transparent layer covering the entire playing surface, whereby when a ball is rolled thereon, the lights temporarily emit light thus simulating an illuminated trail;

a transparent peripheral bumper including a plurality of bulbs fixed therein and a plurality optic fibers horizontally situated therein adjacent to an inner edge thereof with each fiber having an end normally situated with respect to the remaining fiber and further positioned adjacent to the bulb such that the entire bumper is illuminated; and

a ball return cut out formed on a side portion of the pool table comprising an optic fiber situated along a periphery thereof for illuminating the same; and

an elongated pool cue with a tip end and a handle end comprising an optic fiber longitudinally situated within an axial bore formed therein, the fiber having a first end situated adjacent to the tip end of the cue, a transparent tip constructed of a resilient material secured to the tip end thereof, and a light electrically connected to a plurality of batteries situated within the handle end of the cue, whereby the light is adapted to emit light from the tip end of the cue via the optic fiber.

2. An illuminated game device comprising:

a playing ball means;

a power source comprising a battery;

a plurality of light emitting diodes situated within the ball means and electrically connected to the power source; and

a multiplicity of optic fibers each situated within the playing-ball means with a first end positioned adjacent to the surface thereof and a second end positioned adjacent to one of the light emitting diodes, whereby the ball means emits fiber optic light for use in the absence of ambient light.

3. An illuminated game device as set forth in claim 2 wherein the ball means comprises a plurality of balls each having a spherical shell with a hollow spherical interior, the shell including a first half and a second half both equivalently sized and screwably coupled and a plurality of optic fibers each with a first end in communication with an outer surface of the shell and a second end in communication with an inner surface of the shell whereby the fibers are adapted to emit light from the outer surface thereof upon the application of light to the second end thereof, each ball further comprising a tripod brace having a first leg coupled to the inner surface of the first half of the shell and a pair of remaining legs adapted to abut the inner surface of the second half when the halves are screwably fixed, a light emitting diode coupled to an apex of the brace, and a battery electrically coupled to the light emitting diode for allowing the light emitting diode to apply light to the second end of each optic fiber.

4. An illuminated game device as set forth in claim 2 and further comprising a pool table including a flat playing surface with a multiplicity of light units each secured within an associated bore formed below a top plane of the playing surface each light unit including a transparent lens situated in a top portion of each bore and flush with the top plane of the playing surface, a light adjacently situated below the lens and adapted to emit light upon the activation thereof, a motion sensor also adjacently situated below the lens for generating a detection signal upon the detection of motion on the playing surface, and timer circuitry electrically connected to the light emitting diode, motion sensor, and a power bus situated beneath the playing surface for activating the associated light for a predetermined amount of time upon the receipt of the detection signal;

a transparent layer covering the entire playing surface, whereby when a ball is rolled thereon, the lights temporarily emit light thus simulating an illuminated trail;

a transparent peripheral bumper including a plurality of bulbs fixed therein and a plurality optic fibers horizontally situated therein adjacent to an inner edge thereof with each fiber having an end normally situated with respect to the remaining fiber and further positioned adjacent to the bulb such that the entire bumper is illuminated; and

a ball return cut out formed on a side portion of the pool table comprising an optic fiber situated along a periphery thereof for illuminating the same.

5. An illuminated game device as set forth in claim 2 and further comprising an elongated pool cue with a tip end and a handle end comprising a optic fiber longitudinally situated within an axial bore formed therein with the fiber having a first end situated adjacent to the tip end of the cue, a transparent tip constructed of a resilient material secured to the tip end thereof, and a light electrically connected to a plurality of batteries situated within the handle end of the cue, whereby the light is adapted to emit light from the tip end of the cue via the optic fiber.