Abstract:
A billiard aim instruction kit for pocket billiards. A position reference tool is placed at locations on a pocket billiard table surface and aligned aiming toward a pocket. A marking powder packet is used to mark each location. The position reference tool is then removed to reveal each location&#39;s aiming point reference mark, 5 object ball position marks, 5 aiming angle reference marks and a center hit cue ball direction reference mark. An object ball is centered on the 5 object ball position marks of each location marked and rail indicators mark the rail for cue ball direction. The student shoots the cue ball from one of 5 different aiming angle reference points a multiplicity of times without further marking procedures. After each shot the student receives feed back as he compares results with the rail indicator and graphics on the position reference tool.

Description:
FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH  
       [0001]     Not Applicable  
       SEQUENCE LISTING OR PRINCIPLE  
       [0002]     Not Applicable  
       BACKGROUND—FIELD OF INVENTION  
       [0003]     This invention relates to pocket billiards learning aids specifically used to teach pocket billiard players how to properly aim a cue ball at an object ball and pocket the object ball while accurately estimating the range of cue ball direction after impact.  
       BACKGROUND DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART  
       [0004]     There are all sorts of teaching aids used to teach people how to aim pocket billiard shots for different angles. U.S. Pat. No. 6,827,651 by Davis shows a device using lasers to locate the position of the cue ball at impact and 1 fixed direction for the cue ball after impact. The device must sit on the table while the shot is practiced and does not indicate a range of cue ball direction after impact. U.S. Pat. No. 6,053,817 by Flegel shows a device made from cloth temporarily positioned on a pocket billiard table surface. A cue ball is then used to roll onto the surface of the device and make contact with other pocket billiard balls set upon the surface of the device. The problem is you must set the balls on the surface of the device to execute each shot and the device does not give feed back about the range of cue ball direction after impact. U.S. Pat. No. 6,045,450 by Cyr shows a targeting disc that is placed in intimate contact with the object ball on the table. Once positioned the student has indication where to aim. The targeting disc is hard to position and must be left on the table while shooting the shot. Another U.S. Pat. No. 5,401,215 uses an object ball coated with an array of colored dots. This device is difficult to understand and does not give information about the cue ball direction after impact. U.S. Pat. No. 4,178,694 by Bonney shows still another device which acts as a point of aim indicator. This device cannot be used with the actual shot and the object ball must be placed on a pedestal to use it properly and there is no indication of cue ball direction after impact. One of the prior art references U.S. Pat. No. 3,843,120 by Ricci shows an apparatus used for marking an aiming point. The apparatus is shaped like a cue ball and designed to be placed in intimate contact with an object ball and then using a stick of chalk or other marking means to mark the aiming point. The apparatus must be used to set up each and every shot practiced restricting the students ability to concentrate on shooting the same shot a multiplicity of times. Ricci&#39;s apparatus is very difficult to align and accuracy decreases as you move more than 18″ or so away from the target pocket. The apparatus is expensive to manufacture and is very limited in application because the apparatus can only reference an aiming point. This process is time consuming and a shot can not be exactly repeated. All of the above mentioned prior art fail to provide a repeatable condition for shooting exactly the same shot over and over again indicating the exact aiming point, object ball position and cue ball directions for any one of a range of angles for the shot once the training aids are removed from the table surface.  
       OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES  
       [0005]     Accordingly, several objects and advantages of the present invention are: 
        (a) To provide a pocket Billiard Aim Instruction Kit showing the accurate aiming location and range of direction for the cue ball direction after impact.     (b) To provide a pocket Billiard Aim Instruction Kit that can be used to set up multiplicity of practice locations on a billiard table surface, while revealing each location&#39;s aiming point reference mark, 5 object ball position marks, 5 different aiming angle reference marks and a center hit cue ball direction reference mark once the Billiard Aim Instruction Kit is removed from the billiard table surface.     (c) To provide a Billiard Aim Instruction Kit used to set up a plurality of practice shots in different locations on a pocket billiard table and then once the Position reference tool is removed from the pocket billiard table retain the ability to practice those shots set up with the Billiard Aim Instruction Kit a plurality of times and additionally use said Position Reference tool as a feedback reference for any of the shots executed at any time during the practice session.        
 
         [0009]     Still further objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and drawings.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0010]     In accordance with the present invention a Billiard Aim Instruction Kit comprises a position reference tool, 10 rail indicators, 1 center tip indicator and a position marker used on a billiard table surface to help students indicate the precise locations for a billiard object ball and cue ball at the moment of impact while providing detailed information about cue ball direction after impact between the object ball and cue ball occurs.  
     
    
     DRAWINGS  
     Drawing Figures  
       [0011]      FIG. 1  is a top view of the Billiard Aim Instruction kit showing a position reference tool, 10 rail indicators, 1 center tip indicator and a position marker.  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is a top view showing the precise locations and dimensional relationships of the 12 apertures located on the position reference tool.  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  is a top view showing a standard pocket billiard table with the position reference tool positioned on the table surface and the 11 rail indicators positioned on the rails of the pocket billiard table.  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  is a close up view of the pocket billiard table showing the talcum powder marks left at the 12 aperture positions on the position reference tool.  
         [0015]      FIG. 5  is a side view of a billiard object ball with dimensional references to object ball aiming points for 5 different angles of aim.  
         [0016]      FIG. 6  is a dimensional drawing showing the relationships between angle apertures and range graphics.  
         [0017]      FIG. 7  is a close up view showing how to set up a pocket billiard practice shot.  
         [0018]      FIG. 8  is a side view illustrating the 3 common locations a cue tip makes contact with a cue ball.  
         [0019]      FIG. 9  shows a side view of the tip of a common pocket billiard cue stick. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0020]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a position reference tool  1  comprises a flat rectangular sheet of plastic with 12 small diameter apertures, angle aperture  6   4 , angle aperture  3   6 , angle aperture  1 . 7   8 , angle aperture  1   10 , angle aperture . 66   12 , left ball aperture  25 , universal point aperture  26 , top ball aperture  27 , center ball aperture  28 , bottom ball aperture  29 , right ball aperture  30  and center tip aperture  37  centered upon the surface of the position reference tool  1  and positioned as dimensioned in  FIG. 2 . The position reference tool  1  is made of flexible thin plastic sheet material. The Line to pocket  3  is a bold black line printed on the surface of the position reference tool  1  and extends from one short side of the rectangle through the centers of the universal point aperture  26 , bottom ball aperture  29 , center ball aperture  28 , and top ball aperture  27  to the opposite short edge of the rectangle. Angle line  6   65  is a bold black line printed on the surface of the position reference tool  1  extending from the center of the universal point aperture  26  to the center of angle aperture  6   4 . Angle line  3   66  is a bold black line printed on the surface of the position reference tool  1  line extending from the center of the universal point aperture  26  to the center of angle aperture  3   6 . Angle line  1 . 7   67  is a bold black line printed on the surface of the position reference tool  1  extending from the center of the universal point aperture  26  to the center of angle aperture  1 . 7   8 . Angle line  1   68  is a bold black line printed on the surface of the position reference tool  1  extending from the center of the universal point aperture  26  to the center of angle aperture  1   10 . Angle line . 66   69  is a bold black line printed on the surface of the position reference tool  1  extending from the center of the universal point aperture  26  to the center of angle aperture . 66   12 . The angle reference  6   5 , angle reference  3   7 , angle reference  1 . 7   9 , angle reference  1   11  and angle reference . 66   13  are printed on the surface of the position reference tool  1  in close proximity to the angle aperture  6   4 , angle aperture  3   6 , angle aperture  1 . 7   8 , angle aperture  1   10 , angle aperture . 66   12  respectively. The object ball graphic  20  is a graphic image of a pocket billiard ball printed on the surface of position reference tool  1 . The position marker  42  is a standard small cloth bag of white talcum powder similar to those sold in billiard rooms and bowling alleys as a product useful for keeping hands dry during play. The object ball aim point . 66   24 , object ball aim point  1   23 , object ball aim point  1 . 7   22 , object ball aim point  3   21  and object ball aim point  6   19  are bold black circular dots printed on the surface of the position reference tool  1  having scale dimensional relationships to the object ball  20  as shown in  FIG. 5 . The aiming reference . 66   14 , The aiming reference  1   15 , The aiming reference  1 . 7   16 , The aiming reference  3   17  and The aiming reference  6   18  are printed on the surface of the position reference tool  1  in close proximity to the object ball aim point . 66   24 , object ball aim point  1   23 , object ball aim point  1 . 7   22 , object ball aim point  3   21 , and object ball aim point  6   19  respectively. Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2  angle aperture  6   4 , angle aperture  3   6 , angle aperture  1 . 7   8 , angle aperture  1   10 , angle aperture. 66   12  left ball aperture  25 , universal point aperture  26 , top ball aperture  27 , center ball aperture  28 , bottom ball aperture  29 , right ball aperture  30  and center cue tip aperture  37  are small diameter apertures large enough to allow talcum powder from the position marker  42  to be transferred through the position reference tool  1  on to the surface of a standard billiard table  70  shown in  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 1  shows a range graphic . 66   36 , range graphic  1   38 , range graphic, range  1 . 7   39 , graphic  3   40  and range graphic  6   41  are pictorial graphics printed in the shape of various size circle sectors on the surface of position reference tool  1  and positioned as dimensioned in  FIG. 6 . Cue ball path reference  6   31 , cue ball path reference  3   32 , cue ball path reference  1 . 7   33 , cue ball path reference  1   34 , and cue ball path reference . 66   35 , are printed in close proximity to range graphic  6   41 , range graphic  3   40 , range graphic  1 . 7   39 , range graphic  1   38  and range graphic . 66   36  respectively. In  FIG. 1  rail indicator  6 H  44 , rail indicator  6 L  46 , rail indicator  3 H  48 , rail indicator  3 L  50 , rail indicator  1 . 7 H  52 , rail indicator  1 . 7 L  54 , rail indicator  1 H  56 , rail indicator  1 L  58 , rail indicator . 66 H  60 , rail indicator . 66 L  62  and rail indicator CT  64  are small plastic discs small enough to sit upon the rails of a standard pocket billiard table  70  of  FIG. 3 . The direction reference  6 H  43 , direction reference  6 L  45 , direction reference  3 H  47 , direction reference  3 L  49 , direction reference  1 . 7 H  51 , direction reference  1 . 7 L  53 , direction reference  1 H  55 , direction reference  1 L  57 , direction reference . 66 H  59 , direction reference . 66 L  61 , and direction reference CT  63  are text graphics printed on the surface of rail indicator  6 H  44 , rail indicator  6 L  46 , rail indicator  3 H  48 , rail indicator  3 L  50 , rail indicator  1 . 7 H  52 , rail indicator  1 . 7 L  54 , rail indicator  1 H  56 , rail indicator  1 L  58 , rail indicator . 66 H  60 , rail indicator . 66 L  62  and rail indicator CT  64  respectively. In  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 4 ,  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8  the cue ball.  73  is a standard cue ball used in the game of pocket billiards. In  FIG. 7  the object ball  72  is a standard pocket billiard ball marked with a number from 1 to 15 used in the game of pocket billiards. In  FIG. 9  the tip of the cue  89  is a standard cue tip found on the end of all standard billiard cue sticks used in the game of pocket billiards. In  FIG. 1  the center ball line  2  is a bold black line with an arrowhead graphic extending from the center of universal point aperture  26  at an angle perpendicular to the line to pocket  3 . As stated earlier, other embodiments are possible such as using color coding instead of reference numbers to describe the relationships between angles and cue ball direction. Another embodiment can use pocket billiard chalk instead of talcum powder to mark the position of the position reference tool  1 .  
         [0021]     Operation  
         [0022]      FIG. 3  shows how the position reference tool  1  is set up to practice pocket billiard shots on a standard pocket billiard table  70 . The position reference tool  1  is positioned on the surface of pocket billiard table  70  by aligning the line to pocket  3  touching and parallel with an imaginary line extending through the center of the billiard pocket  71  as shown in  FIG. 3 . Once the position reference tool  1  is properly aligned, the student uses the position marker  42  to apply a light coat of talcum powder on to the billiard table  70  surface using the position reference tool  1  as a mask or stencil, moving the position marker  42  back and forth with a daubing patting and wiping motion over the angle aperture  6   4 , angle aperture  3   6 , angle aperture  1 . 7   8 , angle aperture  1   10 , angle aperture . 66   12 , left ball aperture  25 , universal point aperture  26 , top ball aperture  27 , center ball aperture  28 , bottom ball aperture  29 , right ball aperture  30  and center tip aperture  37 . The student then finds the 2 straight sides for each circle sector shaped range graphic . 66   36 , range graphic  1   38 , range graphic, range  1 . 7   39 , graphic  3   40  and range graphic  6   41 . The student places rail indicator.  6 H  44 , rail indicator  6 L  46 , rail indicator  3 H  48 , rail indicator  3 L  50 , rail indicator  1 . 7 H  52 , rail indicator  1 . 7 L  54 , rail indicator  1 H  56 , rail indicator  1 L  58 , rail indicator . 66 H  60  and rail indicator . 66 L  62  on the rails of the pocket billiard table  70  making sure to position each indicator is aligned and centered along imaginary lines extending from the center of the universal point aperture  26  touching and parallel to both straight sides of each range graphic . 66   36 , range graphic  1   38 , range graphic, range  1 . 7   39 , graphic  3   40  and range graphic  6   41  as shown by the dotted lines in  FIG. 3 . The student places the center tip indicator  64  on the rail of the pocket billiard table  70  making sure to position the center tip indicator  64  aligned and centered on an imaginary line from the center of the universal point aperture  26  touching and parallel to the center ball line  2  as shown by the dotted line in  FIG. 3 . After the student has marked the pocket billiard table  70  using the position reference tool  1  with the position marker  42  and placed the center tip indicator  64  and rail indicators  44 ,  48 ,  52 ,  56 ,  60 ,  62 ,  58 ,  54 ,  50  and  46  on the rails of the pocket billiard table  70  at their defined locations, the position reference tool  1  is removed to reveal a residue of talcum powder forming the pattern on the pocket billiard table  70  as shown in  FIG. 4 . The pattern in  FIG. 4  consists of angle mark  6   74 , angle mark  3   75 , angle mark  1 . 7   76 , angle mark  1   77 , angle mark . 66   78 , universal point mark  79 , left ball mark  80 , top ball mark  81 , center ball mark  82 , right ball mark  83 , bottom ball mark  84  and center tip mark  85 . Before going further the relationships between the angle marks, direction references, angle references, rail indicators, aiming references and object ball aiming points must be understood. Each angle mark has 2 relative direction references. As an example, direction reference  1 H  56  and direction reference  1 L  58  are relative to angle mark  1   77  as shown in  FIG. 7 . Angle reference  6   5 , angle reference  3   7 , angle reference  1 . 7   9 , angle reference  1   11 , angle reference . 66   13  is relative to the direction reference CT  63 . Angle mark  6   74 , angle mark  3   75 , angle mark  1 . 7   76 , angle mark  1   77  and angle mark . 66   78  is relative to the rail indicator CT  64 . Aiming reference . 66 ,  14 , aiming reference  1 ,  15 , aiming reference  1 . 7 ,  16 , aiming reference  3 ,  17  and aiming reference  6   18  is relative to angle reference . 66   13 , angle reference  1   11 , angle reference  1 . 7   9 , angle reference  3   7  and angle reference  6   5  respectively. Angle mark  6   74 , angle mark  3   75 , angle mark  1 . 7   76 , angle mark  1   77 , and angle mark . 66   78 , is relative to object ball aim point  6   19 , object ball aim point  3   21 , object ball aim point  1 . 7   22 , object ball aim point  1   23  and object ball aim point . 66   24  respectively. In  FIG. 4  the cue ball  73  is placed centered anywhere along the length of imaginary line “A” starting from the center of the universal point mark  79  extending through the center of angle mark  1   77 . In  FIG. 7  the object ball  72  is placed centered on the center ball mark  82 . The left ball mark  80 , top ball mark  81 , right ball mark  83  and bottom ball mark  84  are used to double check the alignment of the circumference of the object ball  72  and further insure the exact centered position. The student now observes the rail indicator  1 H  56 , rail indicator CT  64  and rail indicator  1 L  58  relative to the angle mark  77  also shown in  FIG. 7 . The student is now ready to aim the shot to pocket the object ball  72  in the billiard pocket  71  and study different cue ball  73  positions after applying high cue impact point  86 , center impact point  87  or low impact point  88  to the cue ball  73  with the tip of the cue  89 . To shoot the angle mark  1   77  shot with high cue impact point  86  the student aims the tip of the cue  89  at the universal point mark  79 , taking mental note of the object ball aim point  1   23  on the position reference tool  1 , while applying the high cue impact point  86  strokes through the cue ball attempting to pocket the object ball  72  in the billiard pocket  71  and position the cue ball near the rail indicator  1 H  56 . If the student wishes to practice the same angle mark  1   77  using low cue impact point  88  the objective will be to pocket the object ball  72  in the billiard pocket  71  and position the ball near rail indicator  1 L  58 . If the student wishes to practice the same angle mark  1   77  using center cue impact point  87  the objective will be to pocket the object ball  72  in the billiard pocket  71  and position the ball near rail indicator CT  64 . The same procedure is used for the other 4 angle marks. The Billiard Aim Instruction Kit is susceptible to various embodiments and forms. For instance, color coding could be used to illustrate the relationships between angles, aiming points and cue ball directions. Paper or metal can be used instead of plastic for the material of construction of the position reference tool. Colored beads can be used instead of lettered and numbered plastic discs for the rail indicators. Angle apertures  4 , 6 , 8 , 10 , 12 , and center tip aperture  37  can be repeated at mirror image positions on the opposite side of the line to pocket  3  Relative range graphics  36 ,  38 ,  39 ,  40  and  41  can be printed as mirror images on the opposite side of the line to pocket  3 . Accordingly, there is described in the drawings and specification a preferred embodiment to be considered as one exemplification of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad scope of the invention to the embodiment.  
       CONCLUSIONS AND RAMIFICATIONS  
       [0023]     Accordingly, While my above description contains many specificities these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as an exemplification of one preferred embodiment thereof. Many other variations are possible. Some examples are changes to the shape of the Position Reference Tool, using metal instead of plastic for the Position reference tool, using color coding for the rail indicators and angle range graphics, using beads or other shapes for the rail indicators using angle references other than those shown on the graphics as long as they are precisely measured and empirically tested to modify the range graphics and applying the billiard games other than pocket billiards as long as the size of the billiard balls are tested and associated to the graphics by empirical testing. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined not by the embodiment but by the appended claims and their legal equivalent.