GB2187647A - Improvements relating to snooker trainers - Google Patents

Abstract

A device for use in the playing of snooker-type games or the like, comprises a base member (6) on which first and second movable members (8, 10) are rotatably mounted. In use the device is first placed squarely on the snooker table, adjacent to the target ball, and the first movable member (8) is moved relative to the base (6) until circular markings thereon are in alignment with the target ball (20) and a pocket. The device is then placed squarely on the table adjacent to the cue ball and the second movable member (10) alone is then moved relative to the base (6) and the first movable member (8) until a marking or sight thereon is in alignment with the cue ball (22) and the target ball (20). Display means (18,19) of the device consequently indicates the type of shot required and/or facilitates visual identification of desired points on contact to the cue ball (22) and the target ball (20) which are spatially separated along a line (B) parallel to the line (A) along which the cue ball (22) should be propelled, to ensure that the target ball (20) is potted. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to snooker-type games Description of invention This invention relates to games such as Snooker, Billiards, Pool and the like (herein referred to for convenience as Snooker-type games.) Such games involve striking a ball known as a cue ball with the tip of an elongate cue, so as to propel the cue ball towards atarget ball,the objectgenerally beingthat the cue ball should strike the target ball in such a manner as to causethetarget ball to move off towards, and into, a pocket, thereby scoring points forthe player in accordance with the rules ofthe game. The act of striking the cue ball with the cue is referred to as taking a "shot", andthetarget ball is said to be "potted" when it enters a pocket.

In the playing ofSnooker-typegames, it is conventional to refer to shots as being of different types according to the manner in which the cue ball strikesthetarget ball, in particularaccordingto visual overlap between the cue ball and target ball at the moment of contact between the balls, as viewed from the initial position ofthe cue ball. This overlap is generally expressed in ball diameters,forexample full (when the cue ball strikesthetarget ballfully-on), 3/4, 1/2, 1/4 or some other fraction.Much of the player's skills relatetojudging,forany given cue ball-target ball pocket configuration, whethera full, , or 1/4 shot is required, and then propelling the cue ball in the appropriate direction, i.e. along the correct line, and little progress can be made until these skills have been acquired.

Difficulty is encountered by beginners in the playing of such games due to their lack of these and otherskills, and in particular, when a beginnerfails to pot a ball, he is uncertain as to whether or notthis was because of his failure to ensure that the cue ball was propelled towards the target ball along the correct line or because of his failure to strike the cue ball correctly (i.e. failure to achieve correct contact between the cue and the cue ball.) Adeviceto assist in the determination of the correct line of propelling the cue ball will thus be of value in its own right and will also assist in identifying an error in the manner of striking the cue ball, and assists in correction of this error.

it is an object of the invention to provide such a device.

According to a first aspect of this invention there is provided a device for assisting a determination of the correct line along which the cue ball should be propelled, comprising a base memberwhich may be placed on a snookertable, a first movable member which may be moved relative to the base into an alignment with the target ball and a pocket, a second movable member which may be moved relative to the base and the first movable member into an alignment with the cue ball andthetarget ball, and display means to indicate points on the cue ball and target ball which are spatially separated along a line parallel to the line along which the cue ball should be propelled to ensure that the target ball is potted.

According to a second aspect of th is invention there is provided a device for assisting a determination of the type of shot required, comprising a base member which may be placed on a snookertable, a first movable member which may be moved relative to the base into an alignment with the target ball and a pocket, a second movable member which may be moved relative to the base and the first movable member into an alignment with the cue ball and the target ball, and display means to indicate the type of shot required to ensure that the target ball is potted.

Preferably the base member is constructed and arranged such asto assist in being laid on the table in a specific orientation, in which orientation the device will be laid for adjustment of both movable members. For example the base member may be rectangular, to assist in being laid down "square" on thetable.

Thus with the base member square on the table on the side of the target ball remote from the pocket the first movable member may be adjusted into said alignment, and with the base member square on the table on the side ofthe cue ball remotefromthe target ball the second movable member may be adjusted into its alignment, whilst retaining the position of the first movable member relative to the base member.

Where the device is in accordance with the second aspect of the invention, the display means may then indicate the correct type of shot by indicating the "target ball fraction" to be struck (e.g. on a fractional scale from zero overlap left through full ball to zero overlap right) and/or if desired, in terms ofthe distance, from the centre line ofthe target ball, ofthe desired contact point between the balls.

The display means may be revealed by inter-relation of markings on both the movable members.

Thus where alternatively or additionally the device is in accordance with the first aspect of the invention, the display means may indicate by a directional line on one movable member which is seen against markings on the other movable member representing a cue ball and target ball in touching relationship, points on the cue ball and target ball respectively which are spatially separated along a line parallel to the correct line along which the cue ball should be propelled.

Desirably both movable members are provided with alignment means to assist in movement thereof to the correct alignment.

Conveniently the alignment means of the first movable member is provided by outlines of two balls in touching relationship,which outlines maybe aligned (in the manner of a three-ball plant) with the pocket to achieve correct orientation ofthe first movable member. Conveniently the alignment means ofthe second movable member is provided by a line.

The alignment means may comprise sights.

Preferablythetwo movable members are provided by discs (such as of plastics) and the base member provides a mounting or housing for the discs, permitting the discs to be mounted coaxially and rotated individually.

There will now be given a detailed description, to be read with reference to the accompanying drawings, of devices which are preferred embodiments ofthis invention, having been selected for the purposes of illustrating the invention byway of example.

In the accompanying drawings; Figure 1 is an expioded perspective view of a device in accordance with the invention; Figure2 is a view showing adjustmentofthe device in relation to the target ball and a pocket; Figure 3A is a view showing adjustment ofthe device in relation to the cue ball and thetarget ball, and Figure 3B illustrates one manner in which the display means may be interpreted to determine the correct lineforthe cue ball.

The general principles of Snooker-type games, the vocabulary used, the skills involved, and difficulties encountered are described in the introductory paragraphs ofthis specification, to which reference is expressly directed.

The illustrated device which is a preferred embodiment of this invention is specifically for use in the playing of such games for assisting in a determination of the correct shot and/orthe correct line along which a cue ball should be propelled,to ensure thatthetarget ball is potted. The device comprises, referring to the drawings, a generally rectangular base 6 providing a mounting or housing forfirst and second movable members 8 and 10 respectively.

Each movable member is in the form of a disco plastics material, having one side of reduced diameter to assist in relative movement thereof as will be described hereinafter. The two movable members are mounted in the base 6 in coaxial relationship, having circumferential parts 9, 11 respectively which project from opposite sides ofthe base 6.

The first movable member8, which conveniently lies beneath the second movable member 10, is provided with alignment means afforded by two coloured circles, conveniently a white circle 12 (representing a cue ball) and a red circle 4 representing a target ball), the member8 additionally being provided with display means afforded byafractional scale 19 extending in a partial annulussymmetricallyon opposite sides ofthe common diameterofthecircles 12 and 14fromzero overlap left th rough F (full ball) to zero overlap right.

The second movable member 10 is generally of clear plastics material, and is provided thereon with a straight diametrical line 18, affording both alignment means and display means.

In the use of the device in a determination ofthe desired line for propelling the cue ball orthe desired type of shot, to ensure that the target ball is potted, the device is laid adjacent to the target ball 20 (Figure 2) on the side thereof opposite to the pocket, with the device being laid on the table in a specific orientation such as square to the sides of the table. The movable member is rotated until the circles 12 and 14are in alignment with the target ball 20 and the pocket, such positional adjustment possibly requiring movement of the device over the table, although the device must be retained square with the table.

The physical basisofthisalignmentisthatfor practical purposes, the balls may be regarded as essentially smooth spheres, so that the force experienced by the target ball when struck by the cue ball is normal to its surface i.e. in a direction along the line of centres of the balls at the moment of contact, the target ball therefore moving off along this line of contact.

Thus, this alignment ofthecircles 12 and 14is indicative ofthe position X (shown in broken lines) which the cue ball must have in relation to the target ball when it makes contactwiththetarget ball, in order that the target ball will move offtowardsthe pocket, and further adjustment ofthe device is with the object of enabling this position to be achieved.

After movement of the member 8 to its correct position, the device is transferred to a position adjacent to the cue ball 22, on the side thereof remote from the target ball 20, and with the movable member 8 retained (by friction) in the position to which it has been adjusted, the second movable member loins adjusted until the line 18 is aligned with the centres both of the cue ball 22 and the target ball 20.

As will be seen from Figure 3A, the pointatwhich the line 18 passes through the scale 19 indicates a mannerin whichthe cue ball should strikethetarget ball (in this case about one half ball left) in orderto ensurethatthe target ball is potted i.e. by using a shot ofthis type, the cue ball should reach the position X at which it will contact the target ball as required.In addition,the line 18 by virtue of passing through the point at which the circles 12 and 14 touch, and by virtue of the orientation ofthetwo circles 12 and 14 relative to said line, indicates at Y1,Z1, in a readily recognisable manner, the disposition of points Y,Z (see Figure 3B) of contact which must be achieved between the surfaces of the balls 22 and 20, and byvisualising these pointsY,Z on the (initially spatially separated) balls 22 and 20 onthetableandvisualising a line B between these points, and propelling the cue ball 22 along a lineA parallel to the thus visualised line B, the player may ensurethatthecue ball 22 will be at position Xwhen it contacts the target ball, which target ball will thus be potted.

The scale 19 may be calibrated byexperimentor by a calculation based upon the geometry of the required paths and position of contact of the cue ball and target ball.

It will be appreciated that th rough use of such a device, a player may gain considerable experience of ascertaining the correct shot or cue ball path, which is ofvalue in itself, and is also ofvalueforidentifying errors in striking the cue ball.

In an alternative device in accordance with the invention, the base 6 is replaced by a base having generallythesame outline in plan but not havingthe corner formations of Figure 1 for retaining the movable members. Such an alternative base is relatively easy to mould. The movable members are then mounted on the alternative base using a central hub pin which passes through central apetures therein. If desired a hub pin may be integrally formed on one of said members e.g. on the member 10, or on the alternative base.

The base may be provided with feet e.g. four, for elevating it abovethetableto facilitate lifting ofthe device from the table.

The movable members may instead be discs of uniform diameter, the upper disc preferably being the th icker of the two and preferably being smaller than the lower disc, and the lower disc preferably extending over central cut-outs in each ofthefour sides ofthe base. In this manner, manufacture and, in use, adjustment of the movable members, may be facilitated.

Importantly, the line 18 may be supplemented by sights afforded by spaced-apart upward protrusions fromthe uppersurface ofthe uppermovable member, at respective opposite ends ofthe line 18, to facilitate alignment of the line 1 8with the balls 22 and 20. The protrusions may be in the form of integrally moulded generally conical formations.

Ascale corresponding to the scale 19may alternatively be provided in the form of a plurality of lines, drawn radiallyfrom the centre of the device, on one ofthe circles 12Or 14, which canfacilitate interpretation of the scale in terms of ball diameters orthe like. The previous position ofthe scale 19may then be occupied by a scale indicating an appropriate "cue ball control card " (not shown) which may be consulted by a playerfor guidance on the shot.

The devices described above are particularly useful for initial cue ball-to-target ball distances of at least 18to 24inches (about45to 60 cm) orso. For closer distances than this,the display means becomes somewhat less accurate due essentially to the relatively greater differences between the direction ofthe line 18, from which readings are taken, and the direction from which the cue ball will actually approach the target ball.These differences may however be adequately accomodated in a "de-luxe" version ofthe device in which the scale 19 (orthe like) comprises longer generally radial but appropriatelycurvilinea markings, and the line 18 is provided with cue ball-to-target ball distance calibrations, along its length, to enable the scale markings io be read at a point on the line 18 appropriate to said distance, so maintaining accuracy of the device.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, orthe accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, ora class or group ofsubstances or compositions, as appropriate, may separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverseformsthereof.

Claims (17)

1. A device for assisting a determination ofthe correct line along which the cue ball should be propelled, comprising a base memberwhich may be placed on a snookertable, a first movable member which may be moved relative to the base into an alignmentwiththe target ball and a pocket, a second movable member which may be moved relative to the base andthefirst movable member into an alignmentwith the cue ball and thetarget ball, and display means to indicate points on the cue ball and target ball which are spatially separated along a line parallel to the line along which the cue ball should be propelled to ensure that the target ball is potted.

2. A device for assisting a determination ofthe type of shot required, comprising a base member which may be placed on a snookertable, a first movable memberwhich may be moved relative to the base into an alignment with the target ball and a pocket, a second movable member which may be moved relative to the base and the first movable member into an alignment with the cue ball and the target ball, and display means to indicatethetype of shot required to ensure that the target ball is potted.

3. A device according to Claim 2 wherein the display means indicates the correct type of shot by indicating the "target ball fraction" to be struck.

4. A device according to Claim 3 wherein the correct type of shot is indicated on a fractional scale from zero overlap leftthrough fu 11 ball to zero overlap right.

5. A device according to Claim 3 or Claim 4 wherein the correct type of shot is indicated in terms of the distance, from the centre line of the target ball, ofthe desired contact point between the balls.

6. A device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the display means is revealed by inter-relation of markings on both the movable members.

7. A device according to Claim 6 where directly or indirectly dependent upon Claim 1 wherein the display means indicates by a directional line on one movable memberwhich is seen against markings on the other movable member representing a cue ball and target ball in touching relationship, points on the cue ball and target ball respectivelywhich are spatially separated along a line parallel to the correct line along which the cue ball should be propelled.

8. A device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein both movable members are provided with alignment means to assist in movementthereofto the correct alignment.

9. A device according to Claim 8 wherein the alignment means of the first movable member is provided by outlines oftwo balls in touching relationship, which outlines may be aligned (in the manner of a three-ball plant) with the pocketto achieve correct orientation ofthe first movable member.

10. A device according to Claim 8 or Claim 9 wherein the alignment means ofthe second movable member is provided by a line.

11. A device according to anyone of Claims 8to 10 wherein the alignment means comprises sights.

12. A device according to anyone ofthe preceding claims wherein the base member is constructed and arranged such asto assist in being laid on the table in a specific orientation, in which orientation the device will be laid for adjustment of both movable members.

13. Adeviceaccordingto Claim 12whereinthe base member is rectangular, to assist in being laid down "square" on the table.

14. Adeviceaccordingto anyoneofthe preceding claimswherein the two movable members are provided by discs (such as of plastics) and the base member provides a mounting or housing for the discs, permitting the discs to be mounted coaxially and rotated individually.

15. A device suitable for use in the playing of a game in which one ball must strike another ball in such away asto causethe other ball to move coffin a desired direction, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and/or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

16. A device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.

17. Any novel feature or novel combination of features described herein and/or illustrated in the accompanying drawings.