GB2224945A

GB2224945A - Table ball games practice aid

Info

Publication number: GB2224945A
Application number: GB8826805A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alan Crook
Original assignee: CADDICK ALAN; KELSALL GEORGE
Current assignee: CADDICK ALAN; KELSALL GEORGE
Priority date: 1988-11-16
Filing date: 1988-11-16
Publication date: 1990-05-23
Also published as: GB8826805D0

Abstract

The practice aid (for snooker, billiards, pool) comprises a bridge (1) for placing over an object ball which it is desired should be directed to a chosen destination e.g. a pocket. The bridge (1) has a portion (3) that is identifiable as being centered over the object ball and an indicator arrangement (7/7A/8/8A) that serves to indicate, with said portion (3) so centered, where the centre of a cue ball should be for the cue ball just to touch the object ball with the centres of the cue ball and the object ball in line with the chosen destination. As shown, the aid is of transparent synthetic plastics material and portion (3) has inscribed on it a circle the same diameter as that of the balls. The indicator arrangement has arms (7, 8) with pointers (7A, 8A). <IMAGE>

Description

TABLE BALL GAMES PRACTICE AID This invention relates to a table ball games practice aid.

It is necessary in a table ball game such as snooker, billiards or pool, so to strike an object ball by a ball propelled by a cue, the "cue ball", that the object ball is directed to a chosen destination, for example into a particular one of several pockets provided around the perimeter of the table. The path that the object ball follows is determined by the point on this ball at which it is struck by the cue ball.

According to the present invention there is provided a table ball games practice aid comprising a bridge for placing over an object ball which it is desired should be directed to a chosen destination, the bridge having a portion that is identifiable as being centered over the object ball and an indicator arrangement that serves to indicate, with said portion so centered, where the centre of a cue ball should be for the cue ball just to touch the object ball with the centres of the cue ball and the object ball in line with the chosen destination.In use where it is desired, for example, in practising snooker to pot a coloured ball, that is to direct the coloured ball (the object ball) into a pocket by striking it with the cue ball, the bridge is placed over the coloured ball and, utilising the indicator arrangement, is positioned so that it is centered over the coloured ball with the indicator arrangement indicating where the centre of the cue ball should be for the cue ball just to touch the coloured ball with the centres of the two balls in line with the centre of the pocket. The player then cues the cue ball, aiming for its centre to reach the position therefor indicated by the indicator arrangement. If the player's aim is accurate, at the moment of impact the centres of the two balls are in line with the centre of the pocket and the coloured ball is driven into the pocket by the impact of the cue ball.

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a ball games practice aid, Figure 2 is a side view of the aid, and Figure 3 is an end view of the aid.

The practice aid shown in the Figures is formed of transparent material, for example transparent synthetic plastics material. The aid consists of a bridge 1 having legs 2 that depend from the cross-piece 3 of the bridge so as to define a right-angled inverted U as seen in end view (Figure 3). One upright edge of each leg 3 is cut-away, at 4, and below this cut-away each leg has an outwardly flaring portion 5.

The cross-piece 3 of the bridge 1 has inscribed on it a circle 6 which is the same diameter as that of the balls with which the aid is to be used. The circle 6 is positioned centrally of the cross-piece 3 and as the cross-piece is transparent it constitutes a portion of the bridge 1 that is identifiable as being centered over a ball, hereinafter referred to as the object ball, this being achieved by placing the aid over the object ball and setting the aid so that the circle 6 encircles the ball.

In addition to the circle 6 the cross-piece 3 carries an indicator arrangement that consists of opposed arms 7, 8 that extend horizontally from opposite edges 3A, 3B of the cross-piece 3, being edges that extend between the two legs 2, 2 so that the arms extend away from each open face of the bridge. The arm 7 terminates in a horizontally directed pointer 7A.

The arm 8 terminates in a downwardly directed pointer 8A.

The tip of the pointer 8A is positioned to indicate where the centre of a ball, hereinafter referred to as the cue ball, should be for the cue ball just to touch the object ball. The centres of the tips of the two pointers 7A, 8A lie on a straight line A that passes through the centre 6A of the circle 6.

An example of the uses to which the practice aid can be put is to practice potting coloured balls in snooker. Assuming that it is a red ball that is the object ball to be potted, the aid is placed over this ball and centered thereover by reference to the inscribed circle 6 which is positioned to encircle the ball. At the same time the aid is positioned so that the pointer 7A is aimed at the centre of the pocket into which the red ball is to be potted. With the aid so positioned the pointer 8A indicates the point the centre of the cue ball has to reach to strike the red ball and propel it into the pocket since at the moment of such impact the centres of the two balls will be in line with the centre of the pocket and that is what is required to achieve potting of the red ball. This requirement holds good no matter what is the angle of approach of the cue ball to the object ball. The aid always has to be set with the circle 6 centered over the object ball and the pointer 7A directed at the centre of the pocket (or other destination) that is desired the object ball should travel to.

It will be appreciated that the critical dimensions of the aid (internal width and height of the bridge 3, diameter of the circle 6 and position of the pointer 8A) are selected to suit the sizes of the balls with which the aid is to be used, so that, for example, appropriately dimensioned aids can be used with full size or less than full size snooker and billiard tables, and to practice games other than snooker or billiards, for example pool.

The aid can be made of material other than transparent synthetic plastics material provided that the bridge has a portion that is identifiable as being centered over the object ball.

Claims

1. A table ball games practice aid comprising a bridge for placing over an object ball which it is desired should be directed to a chosen destination, the bridge having a portion that is identifiable as being centered over the object ball and an indicator arrangement that serves to indicate, with said portion so centered, where the centre of a cue ball should be for the cue ball just to touch the object ball with the centres of the cue ball and the object ball in line with the chosen destination.

2. A table ball games practice aid as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bridge is of transparent material and said portion is the cross-piece of the bridge which is marked for indicating when the cross-piece is centered over an object ball.

3. A table ball games practice aid as claimed in claim 2, wherein the cross-piece is marked by a circle that is of the same diameter as the object ball.

4. A table ball games practice aid as claimed in claim 3, wherein the indicator arrangement comprises a first arm extending from one open face of the bridge and terminating in a first pointer for directing at a chosen destination for an object ball, and a second arm extending from the opposite open face of the bridge and terminating in a second pointer that is directed to where the centre of the cue ball should be for the cue ball to touch an object ball over which said portion of the bridge is centered, the centre of the tips of the two pointers and of the circle marked on the crosspiece being in a straight line.

5. A table ball games practice aid substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.