U.S. patent application number 09/960909 was filed with the patent office on 2003-03-27 for laser beam pool ball teaching method.
Invention is credited to Gratkowski, James J., Gratkowski, Joseph J..
Application Number | 20030059752 09/960909 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25503796 |
Filed Date | 2003-03-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030059752 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Gratkowski, Joseph J. ; et
al. |
March 27, 2003 |
Laser beam pool ball teaching method
Abstract
A laser beam pool ball teaching method employs a laser-beam
generator (2) on a pool table (1) to direct a laser beam (9, 10)
from the laser-beam generator to beam a desired laser-beam spot (4)
on a pool ball (5) on the pool table to be impacted by a cue ball
(6) that is impelled from a cue-ball position on the pool table by
a cue with which the cue ball is struck by a pool player for
causing the pool ball to travel to a pool-table target (7, 8)
intended by the pool player. For beaming the desired laser-beam
spot, the laser-beam generator is placed on the pool table at a
position from which the laser beam can be directed to the desired
laser-beam spot and be seen effectively by the pool player from a
player position from which the pool player impels the cue in
accordance applicable pool-playing rules. The desired laser-beam
spot is determined by experience, skill, vector analysis and
computer-aided calculation selectively. Computer controls can be
applied with a computerized controller (3) in computer
communication with the laser-beam generator.
Inventors: |
Gratkowski, Joseph J.;
(Marco Island, FL) ; Gratkowski, James J.; (Marco
Island, FL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Merrill N. Johnson
800 Harbour Drive
Naples
FL
34103
US
|
Family ID: |
25503796 |
Appl. No.: |
09/960909 |
Filed: |
September 24, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
434/247 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 2243/002 20130101;
A63B 69/00 20130101; A63D 15/006 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
434/247 |
International
Class: |
A63B 069/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A laser beam pool ball teaching method comprising the following
steps: placing a laser-beam generator at a spot-siting position on
a pool table; laser-beaming a laser-beam spot from the laser-beam
generator to a desired impact spot on a pool ball on the pool
table; the desired impact spot on the pool ball being situated to
cause the pool ball to travel to a pool-table target; and impacting
a cue ball that is impelled from a cue-ball position on the pool
table by a cue with which the cue ball is struck by a pool player
for causing the pool ball to travel to the pool-table target.
2. The method of claim 1 and further comprising: ascertaining the
desired impact spot on the pool ball from experience in impacting
the cue ball that is impelled from the cue-ball position on the
pool table by the cue with which the cue ball is struck by the pool
player for causing the pool ball to travel to the pool-table
target.
3. The method of claim 1 and further comprising: ascertaining the
desired impact spot on the pool ball from vector analysis and
mathematical calculation for impacting the cue ball that is
impelled from the cue-ball position on the pool table by the cue
with which the cue ball is struck by the pool player for causing
the pool ball to travel to the pool-table target.
4. The method of claim 1 and further comprising:
computer-programming ascertainment of the desired spot on the pool
ball; transmitting the ascertainment of the desired spot on the
pool ball to a computerized controller on the laser-beam generator;
and directing the laser-beaming of the laser-beam spot from the
laser-beam generator to the desired impact spot on the pool ball
with the computerized controller.
5. The method of claim 1 and further comprising: practicing
impacting the cue ball that is impelled from the cue-ball position
on the pool table by the cue with which the cue ball is struck by
the pool player for causing the pool ball to travel to the
pool-table target.
6. A laser beam pool ball teaching method comprising the following
steps: ascertaining the desired impact spot on the pool ball from
experience in impacting the cue ball that is impelled from the
cue-ball position on the pool table by the cue with which the cue
ball is struck by the pool player for causing the pool ball to
travel to the pool-table target; the desired impact spot on the
pool ball being situated to cause the pool ball to travel to the
pool-table target; placing the laser-beam generator at the
spot-siting position on the pool table; laser-beaming the
laser-beam spot from the laser-beam generator to the desired impact
spot on the pool ball on the pool table; and impacting a cue ball
that is impelled from a cue-ball position on the pool table by a
cue with which the cue ball is struck by a pool player for causing
the pool ball to travel to the pool-table target.
7. The method of claim 6 and further comprising: practicing
impacting the cue ball that is impelled from the cue-ball position
on the pool table by the cue with which the cue ball is struck by
the pool player for causing the pool ball to travel to the
pool-table target.
8. The method of claim 6 and further comprising:
computer-programming ascertainment of the desired spot on the pool
ball; transmitting the ascertainment of the desired spot on the
pool ball to a computerized controller on the laser-beam generator;
and directing the laser-beaming of the laser-beam spot from the
laser-beam generator to the desired impact spot on the pool ball
with the computerized controller.
9. The method of claim 8 and further comprising: practicing
impacting the cue ball that is impelled from the cue-ball position
on the pool table by the cue with which the cue ball is struck by
the pool player for causing the pool ball to travel to the
pool-table target.
10. A laser beam pool ball teaching method comprising the following
steps: ascertaining the desired impact spot on the pool ball from
vector analysis and mathematical calculation for impacting the cue
ball that is impelled from the cue-ball position on the pool table
by the cue with which the cue ball is struck by the pool player for
causing the pool ball to travel to the pool-table target; the
desired impact spot on the pool ball being situated to cause the
pool ball to travel to the pool-table target; placing the
laser-beam generator at the spot-siting position on the pool table;
laser-beaming the laser-beam spot from the laser-beam generator to
the desired impact spot on the pool ball on the pool table; and
impacting a cue ball that is impelled from a cue-ball position on
the pool table by a cue with which the cue ball is struck by a pool
player for causing the pool ball to travel to the pool-table
target.
11. The method of claim 10 and further comprising: practicing
impacting the cue ball that is impelled from the cue-ball position
on the pool table by the cue with which the cue ball is struck by
the pool player for causing the pool ball to travel to the
pool-table target.
12. The method of claim 10 and further comprising:
computer-programming ascertainment of the desired spot on the pool
ball; transmitting the ascertainment of the desired spot on the
pool ball to a computerized controller on the laser-beam generator;
and directing the laser-beaming of the laser-beam spot from the
laser-beam generator to the desired impact spot on the pool ball
with the computerized controller.
13. The method of claim 12 and further comprising: practicing
impacting the cue ball that is impelled from the cue-ball position
on the pool table by the cue with which the cue ball is struck by
the pool player for causing the pool ball to travel to the
pool-table target.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] Our invention lies in the field of pool and billiards games
and uses a unique method of teaching novices and experienced pool
and billiards players how to put a ball into a pocket, which is the
ultimate goal of every game of pocket billiards and pool.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Our invention uses a laser beam. The laser beam generator is
about 2 inches long and has a diameter of about five-eighths of an
inch. The laser beam is powered by a lithium battery in the
generator which also has an on/off switch. The generator is held in
an adjustable fixture designed to be mounted on the raised railing
which surrounds the green felt playing surface of the pool
table.
[0003] There is one point on the surface of each pool ball which,
if it is struck by the cue ball, will positively go into the
intended pocket. The fixture holding the laser generator is
positioned on the railing so that the generator is lined up with
the ball which the pool player wants to put into the intended
pocket. The pool player turns the generator on and a bright red
laser beam ends at the spot on the surface of the pool ball which
should be struck by the cue ball to insure that the pool ball will
roll into the intended pocket.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0004] This invention is described by appended claims in relation
to description of a preferred embodiment with reference to the
following drawings which are explained briefly as follows:
[0005] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an American Billiard table
showing its dimensional relationships and most common size;
[0006] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of
FIG. 1, showing material makeup of a billiard or pool table;
[0007] FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway side view of a laser-beam
generator;
[0008] FIG. 4 is a front view of the FIG. 3 illustration;
[0009] FIG. 5 is the FIG. 3 illustration with addition of a
computerized controller for direction of laser-beaming a laser beam
spot to a pool ball;
[0010] FIG. 6 is the FIG. 4 illustration with addition of the
computerized controller for direction of laser-beaming the laser
beam spot to the pool ball;
[0011] FIG. 7 is a plan view of a first example of use of this
method for executing a relatively straight-line shot; and
[0012] FIG. 8 is a plan view of a second example of use of this
method for executing a relatively off-centered or "side" shot with
"English" for a lateral or backward shot.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0013] Listed numerically below with reference to the drawings are
terms used to describe features of this invention. These terms and
numbers assigned to them designate the same features throughout
this description.
1 1. Pool table 2. Laser-beam generator 3. Computerized controller
4. Laser-beam spot 5. Pool ball 6. Cue ball 7. End pocket 8. Side
pocket 9. First-example laser beam 10. Second-example laser
beam
[0014] This method is practiced on a pool table 1 shown in FIGS.
1-2 and 7-8 by use of a laser-beam generator 2 shown in FIGS. 3-6
with addition of an optional computerized controller 3 shown in
FIGS. 5-6.
[0015] The laser-beam generator 2 is placed at a desired
spot-siting position selectively on the pool table 1. A laser-beam
spot 4 is laser-beamed from the laser-beam generator 2 to a desired
impact spot on the pool ball 5 on a playing surface of the pool
table 1. The desired impact spot is situated to cause the pool ball
5 to travel to a pool-table target. A cue ball 6 is then impelled
from a cue-ball position on the pool table 1 by a cue, which is not
shown, with which the cue ball 6 is struck by a pool player, also
not shown, for causing the pool ball 5 to travel to the pool-table
target.
[0016] In a first example shown in FIG. 7, the pool-table target is
an end pocket 7. In a second example shown in FIG. 8, the
pool-table target is a side pocket 8.
[0017] In the FIG. 7 first example, the pool ball 5 is in nearly a
straight line between the cue ball 6 and the end pocket 7.
Impacting the pool ball 5 centrally with the cue ball 6, however,
would cause the pool ball 5 to miss the end pocket 7. Instead, the
pool ball 5 must be impacted at near precisely a desired impact
spot that is off-centered slightly on a ball side that is opposite
the pool-table target as depicted on the pool ball 5 by a position
of the laser-beam spot 4 that is laser-beamed with a first-example
laser beam 9.
[0018] In the FIG. 8 second example, the pool ball 5 is obtusely
out of line between the cue ball 6 and the side pocket 8. Impacting
the pool ball 5 centrally with the cue ball 6, therefore, would
cause the pool ball 5 to travel in a direction away from, not
towards, the pool-table target and miss the side pocket 8 widely.
Instead, the pool ball 5 must be impacted at very precisely a
desired impact spot that is off-centered highly on a ball side that
is opposite the pool-table target as depicted on the pool ball 5 by
a position of the laser-beam spot 4 that is laser-beamed with a
second-example laser beam 10. The laser-beam spot 4 of the second
example is off-centered sufficiently to cause the pool ball 5 to
travel slightly backwards laterally to the side pocket 8.
[0019] Ascertaining impact spots on pool balls 5 effectively for
being impacted with the cue ball 6 for causing the pool ball 5 to
travel to the pool-table target reliably requires considerable
skill, knowledge, analysis or great ingenuity, not just luck. This
is in addition to highly cultured skill in impacting the cue ball 6
with the cue to hit the desired impact spot accurately and
reliably. This invention provides teaching methods for both.
[0020] Ascertaining the desired impact spot on the pool ball 5 can
be learned from experience, from vector analysis and mathematical
calculation and from both. Ascertainment thereof can be
computer-programmed and transmitted to the computerized controller
3 for computer-aided control of laser-beaming the laser-beam spot 4
to the pool ball 5. Aids can be provided also for assisting in
learning how to hit the cue ball 6 for effective utilization of the
laser-beam spot 4. This invention provides evaluation of skills and
abilities to ascertain and to execute pool-shot objectives.
[0021] The pool-table targets for pool objectives using this
invention can be related to pocketing balls in Pocket Billiards, to
impacting balls in Carom Billiards or to other variations of
billiard games.
[0022] A new and useful laser beam pool ball teaching method having
been described, all such foreseeable modifications, adaptations,
substitutions of equivalents, mathematical possibilities of
combinations of parts, pluralities of parts, applications and forms
thereof as described by the following claims and not precluded by
prior art are included in this invention.
* * * * *