Abstract:
The present invention relates to a pool cue training device for assisting a player in determining cue movement so that the player can learn to control and minimize movement for better and more accurate shots. The invention comprises a laser capable of projecting a laser light in a dot or a line, attached to a mounting device for attaching the laser to a cue. The movement of the cue is determined by the difference between the initial position and final position after the striking motion.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    Not Applicable 
       FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH  
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       SEQUENCE LISTING  
       [0003]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention relates generally to a training aid used in conjunction with pool cue sticks for playing billiards or other games using such cue sticks, for assisting a player in learning to align pool shots and control movement of the cue stick. 
         [0005]    Billiards and similar games using a cue stick is a popular among players both young and old, as well as novice and experienced players. While players enjoy these types of games, it is also very difficult for players to be very good or know whether they are performing the movement correctly as the tiniest of movement of the cue stick during a shot motion can cause a precisely aligned shot to deviate from its course. Therefore, there is a need to provide players using a cue stick or such devices a training aid that will teach them how to align their cue stick as well as train them to keep the movement of the cue stick at a minimum when preparing and shooting the cue stick. 
         [0006]    While there are other alignment devices that have been developed for helping with the alignment of the cue stick, these prior arts have many shortcomings. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,554,075 to Glazer discloses a pool cue alignment device for pocket billiards which includes a laser mounted to the shaft of the pool cue. The laser beam is initially directed generally parallel to the pool cue, and at least a portion of such beam strikes the cue ball. A section of a mirror or glass, serving as a beam deflector, is mounted to the pool cue between the laser and the tip of the pool cue for diverting a portion of the laser beam at an acute angle upwardly away from the cue stick. While Glazer discloses a pool cue with a laser alignment device that is mounted on the pool cue, Glazer&#39;s use of a mirror or glass as a diverting device mounted between the laser and the tip encumbers the use of the stick as the mirror or glass would encumber the movement of the cue stick especially if a player uses a closed bridge (finger around cue shaft). Also, if a player uses a closed bridge, the light beam itself would be blocked by the finger. 
         [0007]    Furthermore, because the light beam is focused on the cue ball and the deflected light from the glass mirror focuses on the target ball, it is difficult to determine whether there is movement as a result of the striking motion because the cue ball and target ball are close to the light beam. The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of this invention by allowing for the addition of a light splitter which converts the light beam to a line of light. This line of light when adjusted to be perpendicular to the cue stick can bend over objects in its path. Additionally, since the light beam in line form can bend over objects and targeted on a distant object, such as a wall, which is further from the cue stick and laser, the slightest of movement in the player&#39;s shot is reflected in a large movement of the light beam on the distant object. The use of the beam in line form therefore makes it easier for the player to see movements in the cue stick. 
         [0008]    Glazer&#39;s disclosure and use of the materials disclosed also ruins the cue stick as the mirror or glass is glued onto the stick and the mechanism for holding the laser to the cue stick requires the use of clamps. The present invention uses a sleeve with a cylindrical hole and a soft material, such as O-rings, that does not damage the cue stick. It also makes assembly and removal of the laser and laser mount easy because a player only needs to slide the cue stick in and out of the cylindrical hole. 
         [0009]    Other prior arts such as Compton (U.S. Pat. No. 5,275,398), Chipman (U.S. Pat. No. 6,155,929), Carney (U.S. Pat. No. 5,738,595), Wright (U.S. Pat. No. 4,688,796), Davis (U.S. Pat. No. 6,827,651), Domulevicz et al (U.S. Pat. No. 6,769,992), and Evers (U.S. Pat. No. 7,118,486) faces the similar shortcomings as those discussed above. Therefore, the present invention discloses a pool cue training device which allows a player to learn to align pool shots and control the movement of the cue stick when the pool cue training device is used in conjunction with a cue stick. Additionally, the present invention allows for the quick installation and removal of the pool cue training device. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    The present invention relates to a pool cue training device for assisting a player in determining cue stick movement so that a player can learn to control and minimize movement for better and more accurate shots. The pool cue training device comprises a laser mount wherein the laser mount contains a sleeve with a circumferential hole for fitment onto the cue stick. The circumferential hole further contains a soft material to provide a secure fit of the laser mount on the cue stick without damaging the cue stick. 
         [0011]    The pool cue training device also comprises a laser mounted onto the laser mount with various attachment means. The laser may also contain a removable adjustable lens cap which may contain a soft material, such as an O-ring, for fitment of the lens cap onto the front end of the laser. On the inside of the lens cap, a beam splitter may be added to split the beam from the laser into a perpendicular line of light which is capable bending over objects in its path. 
         [0012]    The pool cue training device is mounted onto the cue stick and adjustments are made such that the light beam runs down the center of the cue stick. Additionally, a target such as standard reinforced labels or stickers which may be attached to a distant wall to align the line of light so that movement can be determined. The amount of deflection or movement can be determined by measuring the distance between the initial position and the final position of the laser light. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a view of the pool cue training device mounted onto a cue stick. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  are components of the pool cue training device of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a front view of the pool cue training device of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a rear view of the pool cue training device of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a rear view of the lens cap. 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is the pool cue training aid of the present invention mounted on a cue with the laser light projected onto a wall. 
       
    
    
     FIGURE REFERENCES 
       [0000]    
       
           100  . . . Pool Cue Training Device 
           110  . . . Cue 
           200  . . . Laser Mount 
           210  . . . Sleeve 
           220  . . . O-ring 
           230  . . . Adjustment screw 
           240  . . . Beam Splitter 
           250  . . . Lens Cap 
           260  . . . Allen wrench 
           270  . . . Laser 
           280  . . . On/Off switch 
           290  . . . Nut 
           600  . . . Laser light 
           610  . . . Target point 
       
     
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0033]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 6 , a detailed description of the present invention is discussed. In  FIG. 1 , the pool cue training device  100  of the present invention is shown mounted on a cue  110 . A cue  110  is a device used for striking an object such as a cue ball in games such as billiards. 
         [0034]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , a breakdown of the components of the pool cue training device  100  of the present invention is shown. The pool cue training device  100  comprises a laser mount  200 , a sleeve  210 , O-rings  220 , adjustment screw  230 , beam splitter  240 , lens cap  250 , Allen wrench  260 , laser  270 , on/off switch  280 , nut  290 . The components of the pool cue training device  100  is laid out in the general location to which the components would be assembled. 
         [0035]    Referring to  FIG. 1 through 7 , the assembled pool cue training device  100  is discussed. The pool cue training device  100  comprises a laser mount  200  to which laser  270  is mounted. Laser mount  200  comprises an attachment means which can comprise a female thread for receiving the male thread at the back of laser  270 . The female thread may be supplied by a nut  290  that is provided on the laser mount  200 . Alternative attachment means may be used for securing laser  270  to laser mount  200  without deviating from the present invention. 
         [0036]    Laser mount  200  further comprises a sleeve  210  with a hole shaped to receive cue  110 . In the preferred embodiment, the hole in sleeve  210  is a circumferential hole. Within the hole in sleeve  210 , sleeve  210  may further contain O-rings  220  near each end of sleeve  210 . O-rings  220  are used to provide a tight fit when cue  110  is passed through the hole in sleeve  210 . O-rings  220  also minimize or prevent damages to cue  110  when the pool cue training device  100  is mounted onto cue  110 . Alternatively, a soft material such as cork or rubber may be used to cover the inside wall of the hole in sleeve  210  without deviating from the present invention. 
         [0037]    Laser  270  of pool cue training device  100  is a laser device with adjustment screw  230  which can be adjusted by Allen wrench  260  for focusing and aligning. Laser  270  further comprises an on/off switch  280  for turning laser  270  on and off. Furthermore, laser  270  comprises a male threading at the end opposite the front, or the opening to where the laser light would exit, for attaching laser  270  to female threads on laser mount  200 . This female thread can be supplied by nut  290 . Other alternative means for attaching laser  270  to laser mount  200  may be used without deviating from the present invention. 
         [0038]    Additionally, laser  270  may further comprise lens cap  250  which contains an opening for fitment over the front of laser  270 . Lens cap  250  contains a beam splitter  240  which splits the laser light  700  from laser  270  into a line. Lens cap  250  also contains an O-ring on the inner wall of lens cap  250  for securely attaching lens cap  250  to laser  270 . Alternatively, a soft material such as cork or rubber may be used on the inside wall of lens cap  250  without deviating from the present invention. 
         [0039]    The pool cue training device  100  of the present invention therefore comprises a laser  270  mounted on a laser mount  200  by screwing the male thread of laser  270  to the female thread of laser mount  200 . The female thread may be provided by nut  290 . A lens cap  250  which comprises a beam splitter  240  is fitted over the front end of laser  270  such that the laser light exiting from laser  270  is transformed from a spot into a line when projected onto a surface. Lens cap  250  further comprises a soft material such as cork, rubber or an O-ring that provides a secure fit over laser  270 . 
         [0040]    A cue  110  is passed through the hole in sleeve  240  of laser mount  200  until laser mount  200  is securely fitted to cue  110 . Cue  110  is inserted such that the front end of laser  270  faces the smaller diameter end of cue  110 . 
         [0041]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 6 , once laser mount  200  is securely fitted onto cue  110 , laser  270  is turned on by pressing on/off switch  280 . If laser light  600  exiting laser  270  needs to be centered on cue  110 , lens cap  250  is removed. Allen wrench  260  is then used to adjust adjustment screws  230  which are located on several sides of laser  270 . Adjustment screws  230  is adjusted with Allen wrench  260  until laser light  600  is centered. Alternatively, lens cap  250  can be removed prior to the mounting of laser mount  200  to cue  110 . 
         [0042]    Once adjustments have been made to center laser light  600 , lens cap  250  can be fitted back onto the front of laser  270 . Lens cap  250  is then rotated until laser light  600  in lined form is perpendicular to cue  110 . 
         [0043]    To use pool cue training device  100  of the present invention, a user aims cue  110  and laser light  600  onto the object to be struck by cue  110 . As laser light  600  is in lined form, laser light  600  is projected onto the object to be struck and objects behind the object to be struck such as a wall. A target point  610  may be placed on the wall such that the laser light  600  will align with the target point. When a striking motion or stroke is made, the user will notice a movement in the laser light  600  that is projected on the wall. This movement in laser light  600  in its final position and initial position can be determined by measuring the distance between the initial position and the final position. The greater the distance between the initial position and final position of laser light  600  will provide the user with a sense of how much movement has occurred when they moved the cue  110  in a striking motion. Therefore, by using the pool cue training device  100  of the present invention, the user can learn to control the movement of their stroke. 
         [0044]    All the features disclosed in this specification, including any accompanying abstract and drawings, may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features. 
         [0045]    While specific systems and methods have been disclosed in the preceding description, it should be understood that these specifics have been given for the purpose of disclosing the principles of the present invention and that many variations thereof will become apparent to those who are versed in the art.