Abstract:
The present invention is a pool or pocket billiards color-coded numbering system. This system can be applied either as an overlay on a standardized pool table surface or incorporated into the design of the pool table surface just under the four rails or cushions during manufacturing. It can be modified to accommodate pool tables of various sizes as the system is based on number repetition rather than measurement. The system operates upon measurements from table rails to all pockets. The numbers repeat on end rails and side rails creating strategic points where the horizontal and vertical lines cross. The color-coding makes it possible to locate the best routes on the table to the intended pocket through the use of measurements and mathematics.

Description:
REFERENCES CITED [REFERENCED BY] 
       [0001]    [0001]                                                 U.S. Patent Documents            Number   Date   Inventor   Current U.S. Class               6527647   Jun., 2001   Ringeisen   473/2       6364783   Feb., 2000   Kellogg, et al   473/2       6220963   May., 1999   Meredith   473/2       6053817   May., 1998   Fiegel   473/2       6045450   Apr. 2000   Cyr   473/2       5919095   Jun., 1999   Risner   473/46       5769728   Jun., 1998   Kasino   473/2       5743803   Dec., 1995   Jordan   473/46       5716283   Feb., 1998   Simpson, et al       5597360   Jan., 1997   Freedenberg   473/2       5564697   Oct., 1996   Catrinar   273/126R       5401215   Mar., 1995   Pfost   473/2       5338262   Aug., 1994   Hayes   473/2       5275398   Jan., 1994   Compton   473/2       5234379   Aug., 1993   Zotos   473/2       5154415   Oct., 1992   Zotos   473/2       4268033   May., 1981   Fontaine   473/2       4178694   Dec., 1976   Bonney    33/289       4151990   May., 1979   Josenhaus   473/2       4120494   Oct., 1978   Roe   473/2       4027883   Jun., 1977   Batori   473/2       3993305   Nov., 1976   Nicholson   473/2       3989244   Nov., 1976   Wadina   473/2       3947026   Mar., 1976   Scoutten   473/2                    
         [0002]    This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application 60/387,110 filed Jun. 10, 2002.  
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0004]    The present invention is a numbering system that relates to the game of pool or pocket billiards and dramatically simplifies shooting accuracy through the placement of aiming points where horizontal and vertical number 3&#39;s cross. By using numbers, letters and colors, any pool or billiards table can be split into a series of repeating sequences.  
           [0005]    2. Description of the Prior Art  
           [0006]    The game of pool or pocket billiards is well known and has increased in popularity. As interest has increased, pool shooters have looked for methods to develop higher skill levels. There have been many training devices and aids designed to improve skill levels.  
           [0007]    A pool shooter must acquire expertise not only in striking the cue and object balls, but also in aiming for placement of the targeted ball into specific pockets. The knowledge of where to aim for this result has been achieved through trial and error and imitating reproduction of shots as observed. Due to the innumerable shots that can be taken on a table, it has required practicing many shots before developing the skill to consistently place shots into specific pockets. The skill to consistently make shots has been developed through extensive practice without the benefit of a more exact aiming system that is readily visible on the table perimeter.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    The present invention is an innovative aiming system for improving accuracy and thereby skill in the game of pool or pocket billiards. One of the most difficult elements of the game of pool is to understand the geometric and linear relationships of the cue ball, the object ball, and the intended pocket. It is a primary object of this invention to provide a player with a map of precise aiming routes. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]    [0009]FIG. 1 is an overall view of the training system, as it appears in relation to a pool table. This overhead view illustration of the invention shows a first preferred embodiment of the training system for pool and billiards showing the identifying means for set up and practice by the numbers. FIG. 1 includes an illustration of end and side rail strips and a section of expanded detail representative of both larger and smaller numbers on the side and the end rails as it would appear on the perimeter of a pool table.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 2 is an illustration of end ( 2 ) and side rail ( 4 ) strips.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 3 is an illustration of the overhead view showing the labeled pocket numbers, sequence numbers and letters and rail labels from an overhead view.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 4 is an illustration of the overhead view of the intersecting strategic points on the table surface illustrating the connecting points of the number 3&#39;s where horizontal and vertical lines cross creating the basis of the system. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0013]    This invention is a pool table numbering system that uses unique measurements that show the exact spots on the rails where a ball should be hit when banking to any pocket, regardless of where the ball is positioned. It is the equivalent of a customized pool table tape measure that shows every possible aiming point for single or multiple rail shots.  
         [0014]    This invention is an aiming system consisting of a series of larger and smaller color-coded numbers and letters that are placed along the outside perimeter of a pool or billiards table. It creates transverse lines horizontally and vertically that show the exact aiming number to send the cue ball to the object ball and thereby into an intended pocket either directly or by using a rail. The color coding further defines the paths a ball may take based upon the number of rails used. Small location stickers are included as part of the system permitting a shooter to visually see the exact placement of the ball to effect a specific one or more rail shot.  
         [0015]    Referring to FIG. 1, these illustrations show the means to aim with detailed reference points. It is a method for shooting and understanding how to shoot straight shots and bank shots with a high degree of accuracy. In addition to these reference points, the numbers 1-5 in 3 different color sequences repeat around the entire table. This creates 3 sequences of 5 numbers making up half the distance between any two (2) pockets. The 5 number sequences do not start with the number 1, but with the number 3 at the center of all pockets. These numbers give the shooter one key number, the number 3. This system revolves around these 3&#39;s.  
         [0016]    Referring to FIG. 3, the end rails have reference points (X 1 -X 2  and O 1 -O 2 ), and the side rails have reference points (A 1 , A 2 , B 1 , B 2 , C 1 , C 2 , and D 1 , D 2 ) and the pockets are labeled respectively. On the O rail, there are 6 zones,  1 - 6 . This diagram also shows the half zones. On the near side rail of A &amp; B, there are 12 zones from corner pocket P 1  and corner pocket P 3 . There are 12 more zones from pockets P 3  to P 6 . Each one of these zones starts on the number 3 or center of each number sequence. Each zone goes only half the distance on the opposite rail so if you start on rail A 1 , number 24, the number 24 is the quantity of numbers away from the pocket P 1 .  
         [0017]    Referring to FIG. 4, if you connect all of the reference points from one end of the pool table to the other end and from side to side, where these lines cross create intersecting points. The most common point of reference is generally the spot at the front tip of the rack when the balls have been racked.  
         [0018]    Once the system is placed on a table perimeter, the number 3&#39;s become your reference points. Referring to FIG. 4, when you connect all your number 3&#39;s with straight lines, 5 end to end and 11 side to side, there are 55 cross over points where these number 3 lines cross. Bank shots from any of these points can be made by aiming using other cross over points on the playing surface where these 3&#39;s.lines cross. This is where the small location dots are adhered for practice purposes.  
         [0019]    Dividing the distance between each pocket into 6 equal sections creates symmetrical points on a pool table. The sections are marked with a common symbol, the number 3. To bank, the dots are all even with each other or “symmetrical.”. Since all pockets have the number 3 in their center, they too are symmetrical with all these points, as are all the 3&#39;s on the system.  
         [0020]    This aiming system simplifies pool shooting by: Researching and perfecting a formula to place numbers on the perimeter of the table, a numbering system, which lies flat around the tabletop and can be used in many different ways to create extremely accurate points to aim at when shooting. Making the numbers symmetrical or equal to any number that is the same on all other rails. Improving the degree of accuracy by showing all possible aiming points on a pool table. Considering pool table sizes, the angles and the distance to the pockets by formulating a way to accurately pinpoint where a ball should be aimed to bank off of any rail from any leave. Showing all angles possible to any spot on the table by creating formulas using a system that can be understood and creating a means to practice aiming with accuracy.  
         [0021]    If you are standing at any spot around a standardized table, the numbers are the same as if you were standing at the same spot on the other side.  
         [0022]    The other side of the table or far side where the zone line hits rail C 1  is only half that amount of numbers or 12 numbers away from the center of pocket P 4 . This rail pattern is continued around the table and is the basis for how all the zones are found.  
         [0023]    The pool table numbering system consists of the same quantity of numbers no matter what size table it is. There are 3 different 1-5 colored sequences, yellow boxes with black numbers, black boxes with yellow numbers and red and blue on the pocket sequence. All six pockets are surrounded by the red and blue sequence with the green number 3 in the exact center of the pocket. You will also find the red and blue sequence halfway between pockets.  
         [0024]    Pool is not a game of inches. It is a game of fractions of an inch. This system shows players how to accurately shoot shots using 1 or more rails. To fine-tune the system, the numbers 1-72 were added and the numbers 1-144 were added between pockets as an overlay of the larger colored sequences. The keys to this system are all number-sequences are equally spaced according to table size, and all sequences start at the exact same point.  
         [0025]    Distance between pockets for each 5 number sequence is 24 numbers; for each 3 sequences is 74 numbers; and each 6 sequence is 144 numbers. These are aiming numbers and location numbers. The larger 1-5 numbers are spotter numbers used to find your smaller aiming number. The 3&#39;s are green in color. The color green represents the symmetrical points on a pool table. The system also has a green line between the 1 and the 5 or half the distance between each number 3.  
         [0026]    Standing at any spot around a standardized pool table, the numbers are the same as if at the same spot on the other side. All number sequences are equally spaced according to table size. All sequences start at the same point.  
         [0027]    The tables below illustrate the location of the cue ball from B- 1  and B- 2  using a number of rails to various pockets. The information in the table is illustrative and limits its scope to two locations only. Using the system, the tables show only two of the cue ball set on locations.  
                                                             From Cue Ball Set on Location B - 1                        Rails in   Rails in   Rails in                   Rails in   Sequence   Sequence   Sequences   Pocket       To   Rails   Sequence 1   2   3   4 and/or 5   Number               A-1   1   X1 35               3       A-1   1   C1 46               1       A-1   3   X1 56   D2 51   O2 20       1       A-1   4   X1 58   D1 25   O2 46   A2 10   1       A-1       X1 70   C2 61   B2 28   O1 32           5               D1 48   1       A-1       C2 30   B2 30   O1 26   D1 24           5               A1 52   1       A-1   3   D2 66   O2 35   A2 72       1       A-1   1   O1 32               1       A-1   2   O1 56   B1 30           1       A-1       B1 32   O2 34   X2 57   C1 24           5               O1 6   1       A-1   3   A2 32   02 34   D2 58       1               A1 69   D1 16   O1 26   B2 32   1                           C2 20                  
 
         [0028]    [0028]                                                             From Cue Ball Set on Location B - 2                        Rails in   Rails in   Rails in                   Rails in   Sequence   Sequence   Sequences   Pocket       To   Rails   Sequence 1   2   3   4 and/or 5   Number               A-1   2   A1 34   X1 32           6       A-1   1   A1 32               4       A-1   1   A1 30               5       A-1   1   X1 30               3       A-1   2   X1 34   A1 42           5       A-1   3   X1 64   D2 62   O2 24       1       A-1   4   X1 68   D1 40   O2 51   A2-1   1       A-1   3   D2 56   02 30   A2 4       1       A-1   1   02 32               1       A-1   2   01 58   B1 58           1       A-1   3   A2 54   02 44   D2 72       1       A-1   4   A2 43   02 18   D2 26   A1 60   1       A-1       A2 18   D1 2   O1 19   B2 26           5               C2 20   1                    
         [0029]    The terms and expressions which have been employed in the abstract and specification used herein are used as terms of description and not of limitation. There is no intention in the use of these terms and expressions of excluding equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, it being recognized that the scope of the invention is defined and limited only by the claims made. The claims are to be construed to cover all equivalent structures that do not depart from the spirit or the scope of my invention.