Training device for teaching pocket billiards

• US 6,761,643 B2
• Filed: 05/09/2002
• Issued: 07/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: John Wayne Boatwright
• Original Assignee: John Wayne Boatwright
• Inventors: Boatwright, John Wayne
• Primary Examiner(s): Garbe, Stephen P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Aryanpour, Mitra
• Application Number:
  US10/141,732
• Publication Number:
  US 20030216188A1
• Time in Patent Office: 796 Days
• Field of Search: 473/1, 473/2, 473/4, 473/5, 473/14, 473/10, 473/FOR.1, 473/FOR.2, 473/FOR.4, 473/FOR.5, 473/FOR.14, 473/FOR.10, D21/782
• US Class Current: 473/2
• CPC Class Codes: A63D 15/006 Training or aiming arrangements on billiard tables

Abstract

A training device for teaching pocket billiards comprises an overlay placed on a playing surface of a pool table having indicia representing a plurality of predetermined shots. Indicia for each of the shots including a cue ball marker and an object ball marker for indicated placement of a cue ball and an object ball, and a cue ball return area to which the cue ball returns after impact with the object ball. Indicia includes a first trajectory line extending between the cue ball marker and the object ball marker, and a second trajectory line extending from the object ball marker in the direction of one of the pockets. An associated guide manual is provided containing English instructions for imparting spin to the cue ball according to the shot. The indicia for each of the predetermined shots are a different color so that the player can easily differentiate between shots.

Claims

1. A training device for teaching a player pocket billiards on a pool table having a playing surface bordered by cushion railings with four corner pockets and two side pockets, said training device comprising:

an overlay for placement on the playing surface of the pool table;

indicia displayed on said overlay representing a plurality of various prescribed shots including carom shots, rail bank shots, and angle shots commonly encountered during a game of billiards;

a cue ball marker and an object ball marker included in said indicia for each of said various shots for indicating the placement position of a cue ball and an object ball on said overlay;

a first trajectory line included in said indicia for each of said various shots extending between the cue ball marker and the object ball marker, and a second trajectory line extending from the object ball marker in the direction of one of said pockets for illustrating a prescribed travel path for the cue ball and the object ball;

a cue ball return area included in said indicia on said overlay corresponding to a generally centralized area of the playing surface for designating an area in which the cue ball is to return after impact with the object ball; and

,

an associated guide manual containing instructions on the use of English specific to each of said various shots for instructing said player on imparting a required amount of spin to said cue ball by striking the cue ball with a requisite amount of force at a designated location on the cue ball in order to properly complete each of said various shots and cause said cue ball to return to said cue ball return area at the end of each shot when executed correctly by the player;

whereby a training device is provided for teaching the player how to use English on a cue ball for a variety of different shot types to both make shots and setup the cue ball for other shots.

2. The training device of claim 1 wherein said indicia for each one of said various prescribed shots is a different color from the indicia of every other shot so that the player can easily differentiate between the plurality of various shots displayed on said overlay.

3. The training device of claim 2 wherein said cue ball marker and object ball marker for each of said various prescribed shots are a different color so that the player can easily differentiate between the ball markers for the plurality of various shots displayed on said overlay.

4. The training device of claim 3 wherein said first and second trajectory lines for each of said various prescribed shots are a different color so that the player can easily differentiate between the trajectory lines for the plurality of various shots displayed on said overlay.

5. The training device of claim 1 including a carom ball marker included in said indicia in a number of said various prescribed shots.

6. The training device of claim 1 including an interference bail marker included in said indicia in a number of said various prescribed shots.

7. The training device of claim 1 wherein said overlay includes a fastening member for affixing a corner of said overlay to one of the pockets of the pool table.

8. The training device of claim 1 wherein said overlay covers the entire playing surface of the pool table.

9. A training device for teaching a player pocket billiards on a pool table having a playing surface bordered by cushion railings with four corner pockets and two side pockets, said training device comprising:

an overlay for covering the entire playing surface of the pool table;

indicia displayed on said overlay representing a plurality of various prescribed shots including carom shots, rail bank shots, and straight angle shots commonly encountered during a game of billiards;

said indicia including a cue ball return area designating a generally centralized area of the playing surface to which a cue ball is to be returned after hitting an object ball with a requisite amount of spin and momentum to cause said cue ball to proceed to the return area at the end of each shot; and

an associated guide manual containing instructions for enabling said player to impart a requisite amount of English to said cue ball for each of said various prescribed shots to cause said cue ball to return to said cue ball return area at the end of each shot when executed correctly by the player;

whereby a training device is provided for teaching the player how to control a cue ball for a variety of different shot types to both make shots and setup the cue ball for other shots.

10. The training device of claim 9 wherein said indicia includes a cue ball marker and an object ball marker for each of said various prescribed shots for indicating the placement position of the cue ball and the object ball on said overlay.

11. The training device of claim 10 wherein said indicia includes a first trajectory line for each of said various prescribed shots extending between said cue ball marker and said object ball marker;

and a second trajectory line extending from said object ball marker in the direction of one of said pockets for illustrating a prescribed travel path for the cue ball and the object ball.

12. The training device of claim 11 wherein said cue ball marker and object ball marker for each of said various prescribed shots are a different color so that the player can easily differentiate between the ball markers for the plurality of shots displayed on said overlay.

13. The training device of claim 12 wherein said first and second trajectory lines for each of said various prescribed shots are a different color so that the player can easily differentiate between the trajectory lines for the plurality of shots displayed on said overlay.

14. The training device of claim 9 wherein said overlay includes a fastening member for affixing a corner of said overlay to one of the pockets of the pool table.

15. A training device for teaching a player pocket billiards on a pool table having a playing surface bordered by cushion railings with four corner pockets and two side pockets, said training device comprising:

an overlay for placement on the playing surface of the pool table;

indicia displayed on said overlay for marking the location of billiard balls and illustrating a desired travel path for said billiard balls when hit;

said indicia representing a series of prescribed shots that the player performs in a designated order to complete a sequence of shots designed to train the player how to properly execute a variety of shots commonly encountered during a game of billiards;

said prescribed shots each representing a different type of shot with a different level of difficulty for testing the skill of the player in making the specified shot type; and

,

said level of difficulty for each of said prescribed shots is progressively more difficult as the player completes shots and moves sequentially through the shots;

whereby a comprehensive training device is provided for teaching the player how to repeatedly perform a variety of different shot types that would commonly be found during a game of billiards to increase the players understanding of the game.

16. The training device of claim 15 including an associated guide manual containing English instructions for enabling said player to impart a desired amount of spin to a cue ball specific to each of said various prescribed shots.

17. The training device of claim 16 including a cue ball return area designating an area of said overlay in which a cue ball is to be returned after hitting an object ball;

said guide manual containing instructions for enabling said player to impart a requisite amount of spin for each of said prescribed shots to cause said cue ball to return to the cue ball return area at the end of each shot when executed correctly by the player.

18. The training device of claim 15 wherein said indicia for each of said prescribed shots is a different color so that the player can easily differentiate between the plurality of shots displayed on said overlay.