Billiard table apparatus for competitive play at remote locations

• US 9,861,878 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2009
• Issued: 01/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stephen John Grant, Thomas David Penna
• Original Assignee: Stephen John Grant, Thomas David Penna
• Inventors: Penna, Thomas David, Grant, Stephen John
• Primary Examiner(s): Aryanpour, Mitra
• Application Number:
  US13/139,825
• Publication Number:
  US 20110294585A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,946 Days
• Field of Search: 473 1, 473 4, 473 23- 25, 473 27
• CPC Class Codes: A63D 15/00 Billiards, e.g. carom billiards or pocket billiards; Billiard tables bagatelle A63D13/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63D 15/003 Pockets for pocket billiard tables
• CPC Class Codes: A63D 15/20 Scoring or registering devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 1/22 in connection with sports or games
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/38 Ball games; Shooting apparatus

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.