Patent Publication Number: US-7722472-B2

Title: Billiards stroke training device

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
   This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/021,832 filed Jan. 17, 2008 (our ref. CMRN-1-1001). The foregoing application is incorporated by reference in its entirety as if fully set forth herein. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates generally to billiards, and more specifically, to systems and methods for providing a billiards stroke training device. 
   BACKGROUND 
   Billiards refers to a family of games that are played on a billiard table using a plurality of balls and a cue. Eight-ball is one of the most common billiard games and is played using a single cue ball and fifteen object balls on a table having six pockets. Of the fifteen object balls there is a single black eight ball, seven solid-colored balls, and seven striped balls. To begin the game, the object balls are placed in triangular arrangement on one end of the table and the cue ball is placed on the opposing end (aka “the kitchen”). The game generally progresses with at least two players taking alternating turns using the cue to strike the cue ball against the object balls in an effort to pocket certain object balls. The game concludes when one player pockets all the commonly colored balls and the eight ball before another player pockets all the oppositely colored balls and the eight ball. 
   There are many other billiard games in addition to eight-ball including nine-ball, straight pool, and one-pocket. Although the rules may be different between them, the ability to use a cue to accurately and precisely strike a cue ball as desired is a common skill required in every billiard game. Accordingly, there have been many inventions conceived to help individuals develop this skill. For instance, there are a number of inventions directed towards improving aiming and sighting skills of a player including Roe (U.S. Pat. No. 4,120,494); Mazzoli (U.S. Pat. No. 5,520,581); Boatwright (U.S. Pat. No. 6,761,643); Evers (U.S. Pat. No. 7,118,486); Keating (U.S. Pat. No. 7,147,566); Reeves (U.S. Pat. Pub. 2003/0232658); Black (U.S. Pat. Pub. 2006/0166752); Keating (U.S. Pat. Pub. 2005/0101395); Kuo (U.S. Pat. Pub. 2004/0005932); Scoutten (U.S. Pat. No. 3,947,026); Nicholson (U.S. Pat. No. 3,993,305); Cianflone (U.S. Pat. Pub. 2005/0064946); and Simpson (U.S. Pat. No. 5,716,283). Further, there are inventions directed towards improving cue contact with a cue ball including Legacie (U.S. Pat. No. 6,267,686) and Schluter (U.S. Pat. No. 6,132,319). There are yet other inventions directed towards training a player to form a proper bridge for supporting the cue including Josenhans (U.S. Pat No. 4,053,153) and Davis (U.S. Pat. Pub. 2007/0079421). 
   Indeed, aiming, sighting, cue contact, and proper bridging are each important in billiards. However, proper cue stroke technique, including arm positioning, alignment, and motion, forms the foundation for each of the above and ultimately drives the ability to accurately and precisely use a cue to strike a cue ball as desired. Despite its importance, however, the art has thus far neglected assisting players to develop a proper cue stroke, thereby facilitating poor technique and making billiards more difficult than necessary to learn. Therefore, although desirable results have been achieved there exists much room for improvement. What is needed then are systems and methods for providing a billiards stroke training device. 
   SUMMARY 
   This invention relates generally to billiards, and more specifically, to systems and methods for providing a billiards stroke training device. In one embodiment, the invention includes a harness, a sleeve, a guide, the guide being coupled to the sleeve; and a post, the post being coupled to the harness, the post being configurable to limit motion of the guide, wherein the harness is configurable to being worn on an upper torso of a billiards player, wherein the sleeve is configurable to being worn on an arm of the billiards player, and wherein motion of the arm of the billiards player is limited to that provided for by the guide. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the following drawings: 
       FIG. 1  is a front elevational view of a billiards stroke training device, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a top view of a billiards stroke training device, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
       FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b  are a side elevational view of a billiards stroke training device worn by a billiards player, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; and 
       FIG. 4  is a back perspective view of a billiards stroke training device, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   This invention relates generally to billiards, and more specifically, to systems and methods for providing a billiards stroke training device. Specific details of certain embodiments of the invention are set forth in the following description and in  FIGS. 1-4  to provide a thorough understanding of such embodiments. The present invention may have additional embodiments, may be practiced without one or more of the details described for any particular described embodiment, or may have any detail described for one particular embodiment practiced with any other detail described for another embodiment. 
     FIG. 1  is a front elevational view of a billiards stroke training device, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In one embodiment, the billiards stroke training device  100  includes a harness  102 , a post  104 , a sleeve  106 , harness straps  108 , a harness collar  110 , sleeve straps  112 , and a guide  114 . The harness  102  is coupled to the post  104  and the sleeve  106  is coupled to the guide  114 . The post  104  extends laterally and downwardly from the harness  102  and is configurable to being removably and movably inserted through the guide  114 . 
   In one embodiment, the harness  102  is constructed from a relatively rigid material and defines a harness front  116 , a harness upper portion  117 , and a harness back  118 . The harness upper portion  117  defines an aperture rimmed by the harness collar  110 . The harness straps  108  elastically traverse between the harness front  116  and the harness back  118  on opposing sides of the harness  102 . Accordingly, the harness  102  is configurable to being worn by a billiards player ( FIG. 3 ) with the player&#39;s head being inserted through the aperture of the harness upper portion  117 , with the harness upper portion  117  resting on the player&#39;s shoulders, and with the harness front  116  and harness back  118  extending down the player&#39;s upper torso to a lower portion of the player&#39;s rib cage. The harness straps  118  are then used to adjustably secure the harness  102  to the player. The sleeve  106  is constructed from a relatively rigid material and defines a concave surface. The sleeve  106  includes the guide  114  on its outer surface and the sleeve straps  112  that elastically traverse between opposing edges of the sleeve  106 . The sleeve  106  and the guide  114  are constructed from a single mold. Accordingly, the sleeve  106  is configurable to being worn by the billiards player ( FIG. 3 ) with the sleeve  106  resting against player&#39;s arm, the sleeve straps  112  adjustably securing the sleeve  106  thereon, and the guide  114  protruding outwardly. The post  104  is constructed from a rigid material and is removably secured to the harness back  118 . The post  104  extends from the harness  102  laterally and downwardly and is removably and movably inserted through the guide  114 . Accordingly, when the harness  102  and the sleeve  106  are worn by a billiards player movement of the player&#39;s arm is limited to that provided for by the post  104  and the guide  114 . 
   In various other embodiments, the harness  102  is wholly or partially constructed from less rigid or more flexible material. For example, the harness back  118  can be rigid while the harness upper portion  117  and the harness front  116  can be flexible. Also, the harness back  118 , the harness upper portion  117 , and the harness front  116  can be entirely flexible or constructed from elastic material. The harness  102  can be differently shaped. For example, the harness  102  can be separable on the harness front  116  with laces or straps to accommodate various player sizes. Also, the harness front  116  and the harness back  118  can be shorter or extend further down the player&#39;s torso. Alternatively, the harness front  116  can be connected to the harness back  118  in lieu of the harness straps  108 . Further, the harness upper portion  117  and the harness collar  110  can be omitted with the harness front  116  and the harness back  118  being configured to circumscribe the player&#39;s upper torso. Also, the harness  102  can be supplemented or replaced with straps that circumscribe the player&#39;s upper torso, shoulders, neck, or arms. In yet further embodiments, the post  104  is constructed from any of metal, plastic, wood, synthetic material, a combination thereof, or any other material. The post  104  can be coupled to any portion of the harness  102  and can extend in any direction. For example, the post  104  can be coupled to the harness upper portion  117  or the harness front  116 . Further, the post  104  can extend in an opposite direction than illustrated to accommodate player&#39;s being left or right handed or can extend upwardly such as when coupled to a lower portion of the harness  102 . Also, the post  104  can be shaped differently, can include fewer or greater angles, or can include one or more adjustable articulable joints. Additionally, the post  104  can include a safety cap on either end to prevent bodily injury. Further, the post  104  can be supplemented with one or more additional posts. In other embodiments, the sleeve  106  is wholly or partially constructed from more or less rigid materials. For example, the sleeve  106  can be constructed from an elastic material. The sleeve  106  can be differently shaped; for example, the sleeve  106  can be flat, non-uniformly shaped, or can extend completely around the player&#39;s arm. In one particular embodiment, the sleeve  106  is coupled, removably coupled, or adjustably coupled to any portion of the harness  102  such as the harness upper portion  117 . In yet further embodiments, the guide  114  is a separate component that is coupled or removably coupled to the sleeve  106 . Also, the guide  114  can be disposed at any position relative to the sleeve  106  and its position can be adjustable. For example, the guide  114  can be adjustable up, down, in, out, rotationally, or angularly relative to the sleeve  106 . Alternatively, the guide  114  is alternatively constructed as a plate or any other device that provides for constrained motion, such as by using a channel, rollers, or magnets. In yet other embodiments, the sleeve straps  112  and the harness straps  108  can be fewer or greater in number or can be omitted or supplemented with an alternative securing mechanism such as buckles, laces, belts, buttons, snaps, zippers, material, or stretchable material. The sleeve straps  112  and the harness straps  108  can be disposed at any position relative to the sleeve  106  and the harness  102 , respectively. 
     FIG. 2  is a top view of a billiards stroke training device, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In one embodiment, the billiards stroke training device  100  includes the harness  102  having the harness front  116 , the harness upper portion  117 , the harness back  118 , and the harness collar  110 ; a post mount  208 ; the post  104 ; the sleeve  106  having the sleeve straps  112 , sleeve padding  204 , and sleeve flaps  206 ; and the guide  114  having a guide channel  202 . As described in reference to  FIG. 1  supra, the harness front  116  is coupled to the harness back  118  via the harness upper portion  117 . The harness upper portion  117  defines an aperture that is rimmed by the harness collar  110 . Accordingly, the harness  102  is shaped to be comfortably worn on the player&#39;s shoulders and upper torso. The post mount  208  is coupled to the harness back  118  and is configurable to removably secure the post  104  therein. The post  104  extends laterally and downwardly from the post mount  208  and is configurable to being removably and movably inserted through the guide channel  202  of the guide  114 . The guide  114  extends from the sleeve  106 , which includes the sleeve padding  204  on its inner surface and the sleeve straps  112 . Accordingly, the sleeve  106  is configured to be comfortably worn on the player&#39;s arm with the sleeve straps  112  securing the sleeve  106  thereto and the sleeve flaps  206  preventing pinching. 
     FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b  are a side elevational view of a billiards stroke training device worn by a billiards player, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In one embodiment, the billiards stroke training device worn by a billiards player  300  includes a billiards player  302  having a body  306 , an arm  304 , and a hand  305 ; the harness  102  having the harness front  116 , the harness upper portion  117 , the harness back  118 , harness padding  308 , and the harness straps  108 ; the post mount  208 ; the post  104 ; the guide  114 ; the sleeve  106 ; and a cue stick  307 . As described in reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2  supra, the harness  102  is worn by the billiards player  302  with the harness upper portion  117  resting on the shoulders of the billiards player  302  and the harness front  116  and the harness back  118  extending down the body  306  of the billiards player  302 . The harness padding  308  lines an internal surface of the harness  102  and interfaces the harness  102  and the body  306  to provide a comfortable fit. The harness straps  108  extend between the harness front  116  and the harness back  118  under the arm  304  to secure the harness  102  to the body  306 . The sleeve  106  is worn on the arm  304  of the billiards player  302  and is secured thereon using the sleeve straps  112  (not visible). The guide  114  extends from the sleeve  106  as is configurable to removably and movably receive the post  104  therein. The post  104  extends from the post mount  208  on the harness back  118  and extends laterally and downwardly through the guide channel  202  (not visible) of the guide  114 . The hand  305  of the player  302  is configurable to gripping the cue stick  307 . Accordingly, when the player  302  wears the harness  102  and the sleeve  106  as described, motion  310  of the arm  304 , the hand  305 , and the cue stick  307  is limited to that provided for by the post  104  as it moves through the guide channel  202  thereby providing a billiards stroke training device. 
   In certain embodiments, the post  104  or the guide  114  are differently shaped or positioned to provide the same or different limitations on the motion  310  such as to accommodate different billiards playing styles, different player sizes, or different player handedness. For example, the post  104  can extend more laterally to accommodate players having a more closed billiards stance. Further, either the shape or the position of the post  104  or the guide  114  can be adjustable. For example, the guide  114  can be extended, shortened, rotated, shifted, titled, or otherwise displaced. Similarly, the post  104  can be straightened, bent, extended, shortened, rotated, shifted, tilted, or otherwise displaced. The post  104  and the guide  114  can include articulable joints to facilitate any of the above. Furthermore, additional posts can be provided to supplement or interchange with the post  104  that embody different sizes, angles, lengths, materials, or other characteristics. In one particular embodiment, the harness padding  308  is wholly or partially omitted. 
     FIG. 4  is a back perspective view of a billiards stroke training device, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In one embodiment, the billiards stroke training device  100  includes the harness  102  having the harness front  116 , the harness upper portion  117 , the harness back  118 , the harness collar  110 , the harness padding  308 , and the harness straps  108 ; the post mount  208 ; the post  104 ; the guide  114  having the guide channel  202 ; and the sleeve  106  having the sleeve padding  204 , the sleeve flaps  206 , and the sleeve straps  112  as described more fully in reference to  FIGS. 1-3  supra. 
   In one embodiment, the post mount  208  is constructed from a rigid material and extends lengthwise along the harness back  118  just beneath the harness collar  110 . The post mount  208  defines an internal channel along its length for receiving the post  104  therein. The post  104  is insertable into the internal channel from either side of the post mount  208  to accommodate right and left handed players. Once inserted, the post mount  208  includes a locking mechanism such as a pin, bolt, bearing, magnet, bicycle seat-type mounting bracket, or some other device or system that secures the post  104  therein. The release button  210  is usable to release the post  104  from the post mount  208 . 
   In one embodiment, the guide  114  is constructed from a rigid material and forms an elongated member that defines the guide channel  202  along its length. The guide channel  202  has a width sufficient to receive the post  104  therein whereby the post  104  is configurable to traversing a length of the guide  114  within the guide channel  202 . The post  104  is otherwise unsecured to the guide channel  202 . 
   In various embodiments, the post mount  208  is wholly or partially constructed from less rigid and more flexible materials. The post mount  208  can be differently shaped such as with two or more separate components and can be configured to removably secure the post  114  externally. The post mount  208  can be alternatively disposed at any position relative to the harness  102  including on the harness upper portion  117  or on the harness front  116  or can be integrated with the harness  102 . The post mount  208  can be adjustable in any direction relative to the harness  102  including up, down, in, out, rotationally, or angularly. The post  104  can be mounted on a side of the post mount  208 , directly to the harness  102 , or can be an extension of the post mount  208  or the harness  102 . The internal locking mechanism and the release button  210  can be omitted, supplemented, or replaced by any other means for removably securing the post  104  to the post mount  208 . The post  104  can be irremovably fixed to the post mount  208 . In yet further embodiments, the guide  114  is constructed wholly or partially from less rigid and more flexible materials. Also, the guide  114  can be alternatively shaped including circular, oval, or some other uniform or non-uniform shape. Further, the guide  114  can be alternatively positioned relative to the sleeve  106  or the harness  102 . For example, the guide  114  can be coupled to the harness  102  and the post  104  can be secured to the sleeve  106 . Further, the guide channel  202  can be widened, shortened, or alternatively shaped or can be replaced with any mechanism that permits movement of the post  104  relative to the guide  114  including rollers. Also, the guide channel  202  can be adjustable such as by width, length, or shape. 
   While preferred and alternate embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, as noted above, many changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is not limited by the disclosure of these preferred and alternate embodiments. Instead, the invention should be determined entirely by reference to the claims that follow.