WO2012170070A1

WO2012170070A1 - Plurality of methods for playing pool

Info

Publication number: WO2012170070A1
Application number: PCT/US2012/000273
Authority: WO
Inventors: Stewart C. GARDNER; Joseph E. TUCKER
Original assignee: Seventh Pocket Billiards Llc
Priority date: 2011-06-06
Filing date: 2012-06-06
Publication date: 2012-12-13

Abstract

A method and apparatus for playing pool on a pool table is disclosed. A plurality of target raised pockets is located on the pool table and pool balls are hit into an indentation on the raised pocket. For example, a plurality of pool balls is arranged in a starting position on the playing surface of the pool table. Players alternate turns wherein each player attempts to hit balls from a set of pool balls assigned to that player onto the target raised pockets on the pool table using a pool cue. The game ends when the player has hit all of his assigned balls onto an indentation on a top level of the target raised pocket.

Description

A Plurality of Methods for Playing Pool

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to a method and apparatus for playing new pool (billiard) games, and more particularly, to new pool games which incorporate a raised pocket located on the playing surface of a pool table.

BACKGROUND ART

The origination of pocket billiards can be traced back to Europe in the

1500's. Typically, pocket billiards is played on a rectangular table with a plurality of drop pockets arranged around the playing surface. For example, the pool table 10 can have six pockets 12 arranged around the periphery of the playing surface 24, one in each corner and two on the sides, as illustrated in Figure 1. Pocket pool games use a plurality of pool balls including a cue ball, wherein a player strikes the cue ball with a pool cue in an attempt to hit one of the pool balls into a pocket.

Over the years, several pool games have become very popular, namely 8- ball and 9-ball. In 8-ball, the pool balls are divided into two sets, 7 low numbered balls or "solids" and 7 high number balls or "strips". In addition, there is an object ball, i.e., the 8-ball. The basic format of this game is that each player is assigned either solids or strips and the player attempts to hit all of his/her assigned balls into the pockets of the pool table. Once a player has successfully hit all of his/her assigned balls into the pockets, the player attempts to hit the 8- ball into a previously selected pocket. The game continues until a player successfully makes the 8-ball in the selected pocket.

9-ball uses 9 balls numbered 1 through 9. The balls are hit in rotation, meaning that they must be hit in numerical order starting with the 1 -ball. However, the balls do not need to be pocketed in sequence. As long as the cue ball hits the ball with the correct number first, any ball including the 9-ball may be sunk and the player is allowed to continue their turn. A player wins by legally sinking the 9-ball into a pocket at any point during the game.

After playing 8-ball and 9-ball over and over again, some players will want some variety in the games they play so they will look for new games to play. Over the past decades, people have devised many variations of known pool games. One problem with many of these new games is that pool players consider the games to be too gimmicky or introduce too much luck into the game which goes against the basic principles of pool which require skill and concentration. Thus, there is a need for new pool games and apparatus which overcomes the problems cited above.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

It is therefore a feature and advantage of the present invention to provide a plurality of new pool games which use at least one raised pocket located on the playing surface of a pool table which require skill and strategy.

According to one aspect of the invention, a method for playing a game on a pool table is disclosed. The method comprises of the steps of: placing a plurality of pool balls in a starting position on the playing surface of the pool table, wherein the plurality of pool balls is comprised of an object ball and a plurality of different sets of pool balls; shooting an initial shot to break the pool balls from their starting position using a cue ball and a cue stick;

removing the cue ball from the playing surface of the pool table; alternating turns between a plurality of players, wherein each player attempts to hit balls from a set of pool balls assigned to that player into an indentation on a top level of a raised pocket located on the playing surface of the pool table; and hitting the object ball into an indentation on a top level of the raised pocket located on the playing surface of the pool table once a player has hit all of their assigned balls onto the raised pocket, wherein the game ends when the object ball comes to rest in the indentation on the raised pocket. According to another aspect of the invention, a method for playing a game on a pool table is disclosed. The method comprises of the steps of: placing a plurality of pool balls in starting positions on the playing surface of the pool table, wherein the plurality of pool balls is divided into two equal groups; placing a first target raised pocket and a first blocking raised pocket at first predetermined locations on the playing surface of the pool table; placing a second target raised pocket and a second blocking raised pocket at second predetermined locations on the playing surface of the pool table; assigning each player a different target raised pocket and a set of pool balls; each player hitting a ball from their assigned set of pool balls toward their assigned target raised pocket, wherein the player who leaves their ball closest to their assigned target raised pocket gets the next turn; and alternating turns between the plurality of players wherein each player attempts to hit all of their assigned pool balls onto their assigned target raised packet, wherein the game ends when one of the players hits all of their assigned pool balls onto their assigned target raised pocket.

According to another aspect of the invention, a method for playing a game on a pool table is disclosed. The method is comprised of the steps of: placing a plurality of pool balls in a starting position on the playing surface of the pool table; and alternating turns between a plurality of players, wherein each player attempts to hit one or more of the pool balls, using a pool cue, into an indentation on a top level of at least one raised pocket located on the playing surface of the pool table.

According to another aspect of the invention, a computer readable medium storing code for simulating a pool game is disclosed. The code comprises: code for placing a plurality of pool balls in a starting position on the playing surface of the pool table, wherein the plurality of pool balls is comprised of an object ball and a plurality of different sets of pool balls; code for shooting an initial shot to break the pool balls from their starting position using a cue ball and a cue stick; code for removing the cue ball from the playing surface of the pool table; code for alternating turns between a plurality of players, wherein each player attempts to hit balls from a set of pool balls assigned to that player into an indentation on a top level of a raised pocket located on the playing surface of the pool table; and code for hitting the object ball into an indentation on a top level of the raised pocket located on the playing surface of the pool table once a player has hit all of their assigned balls onto the raised pocket, wherein the game ends when the object ball comes to rest in the indentation on the raised pocket.

According to another aspect of the invention, a computer readable medium storing code for simulating a pool game is disclosed. The code comprises: code for placing a plurality of pool balls in starting positions on the playing surface of the pool table, wherein the plurality of pool balls is divided into two equal groups; code for placing a first target raised pocket and a first blocking raised pocket at first predetermined locations on the playing surface of the pool table; code for placing a second target raised pocket and a second blocking raised pocket at second predetermined locations on the playing surface of the pool table; code for assigning each player a different target raised pocket and a set of pool balls; code for each player hitting a ball from their assigned set of pool balls toward their assigned target raised pocket, wherein the player who leaves their ball closest to their assigned target raised pocket gets the next turn; and code for alternating turns between the plurality of players wherein each player attempts to hit all of their assigned pool balls onto their assigned target raised packet, wherein the game ends when one of the players hits all of their assigned pool balls onto their assigned target raised pocket.

According to another aspect of the invention, a computer readable medium storing code for simulating a pool game is disclosed. The code comprises: code for placing a plurality of pool balls in a starting position on the playing surface of the pool table; and code for alternating turns between a plurality of players, wherein each player attempts to hit one or more of the pool balls, using a pool cue, into an indentation on a top level of at least one raised pocket located on the playing surface of the pool table. There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described below and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein, as well as the abstract, are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art pool table;

FIGS . 2(a)-(c) illustrate a perspective view of a raised pocket according to several embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a top view of a raised pocket according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 4(a)-(b) illustrate a side view of raised pockets according to another embodiment of the invention; FIG. 5 illustrates a raised pocket with a plurality of indentations according to another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates a multilevel raised pocket according to another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates a pool table with a raised pocket according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 illustrates a pool table with a raised pocket according to another embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 9 illustrates a pool table with a raised pocket according to another embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 10 illustrates a large raised pocket according to another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 1 1 illustrates a starting position for a pool game according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 12 illustrates a computer system according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 13 illustrates a computer readable medium according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 14 illustrates a computer readable medium according to one embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 15 illustrates a computer readable medium according to one embodiment of the invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

According to one embodiment of the invention, at least one raised pocket (also called a raised stand) is placed or attached to the playing surface of a pool table. The goal of the new pool games described below is to hit one or more pool balls into an indentation on the raised pocket or pockets. The specifics of the raised pockets will now be described followed by a description of some of the new pool games which can be played using the raised pocket or pockets. As illustrated in Figure 2, the raised pocket 20 has sloping sides 22 which lead up from the playing surface of a pool table 24 to a top level 26. The top level 26 has an indentation 28 in which a pool ball moving at the correct speed may come to rest. Figure 3 illustrates the raised pocket 20 as viewed from above and Figures 4(a)-(b) illustrate the raised pocket 20 as viewed from the side according to several different embodiments. As illustrated in Figure 2, the raised pocket can be substantially circular in shape, but the invention is not limited thereto. For example, the raised pocket can have a shape that is substantially similar to a circle, triangle, square, hexagon, pentagon, heptagon, octagon or any other shape.

The indentation 28 can be a dip in the top level 26 with sloping sides or the indentation 28 can be a hole with substantially vertical sides as illustrated in Figures 2(a)-(b). The hole may be substantially circular or square, but the invention is not limited thereto. In addition, the indentation 28 may take up a portion of the top level as illustrated in figure 2(a) or the indentation can take up substantially all of the top level as illustrated in Figure 2(b). In addition, the indentation 28 may not have a bottom surface in which case the raised pocket 20 will be shaped like a ring with sloping sides which slope upwards toward the middle of the raised pocket as illustrated in Figure 2(c).

The raised pocket 20 may be constructed with various diameters and height. Furthermore, the indentations can have various diameters and depths, wherein the larger and deeper the indentation, the easier it is for a ball to come to rest in the indentation. According to one embodiment of the invention, the raised pocket 20 has an outer diameter of approximately 4 inches with a substantially circular hole approximately 2.75 inches in diameter. According to one embodiment of the invention, the raised pocket 20 has an outer diameter of approximately 4.5 inches with a substantially circular hole approximately 3 inches in diameter. According to one embodiment of the invention, the raised pocket 20 has an outer diameter of 4.5 inches with a substantially circular hole approximately 3 inches in diameter. According to one embodiment of the invention, the raised pocket 20 has an outer diameter of approximately 5.5 inches with a substantially circular hole approximately 4 inches in diameter. According to one embodiment of the invention, the raised pocket 20 has an outer diameter of approximately 7 inches with a substantially circular hole approximately 5.5 inches in diameter. According to one embodiment of the invention, the raised pocket 20 has an outer diameter of approximately 13.5 inches with a substantially circular hole approximately 12 inches in diameter. The raised pockets 20 described above can have heights ranging from 0.125 to 1.5 inches but the invention is not limited thereto. According to one embodiment of the invention, the height of the raised stand 20 is approximately 0.38 inches and the depth of the indentation 28 is approximately 0.26 inches. According to one embodiment of the invention, the slope of the sloping sides 22 is between 5°- 70°, and preferably between 15°- 45°, and more preferably between 25°-30°, but the invention is not limited thereto. According.to one embodiment of the invention, the slope of the sloping sides is approximately 28.87°.

The raised pocket 20 can be constructed out of many materials comprising at least one of metal, metal composite, plastic, wood, stone, glass, resin and/or rubber, but the invention is not limited thereto. Regardless of the material used, the stand must have a durometer value of at least 10, and preferably have a durometer value of at least 25, and more preferably have a durometer value of at least 37. The raised pocket 20 can also comprise lights and/or sound making devices, wherein the lights flash and/or the sound making devices make sounds when a ball comes to rest in an indentation on the raised pocket 20. For example, the weight of the ball (or composition of the ball) can close a switch which completes a circuit which activates the lights and/or sound devices, but the invention is not limited thereto. The lights and/or sound devices can be arranged in any pattern and can be composed of any number of lights and/or sound devices.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the raised pocket 20 may have a plurality of indentations 56, 57, 58 on the top level 26, as illustrated in Figure 5. The indentations can be of the same size or shape or can have different sizes or shapes. For example, the indentations 56, 57, 58 can have different diameters as illustrated in Figure 5. Furthermore, a raised pocket may have 2 or more levels, wherein sloped sides lead up from one level to the next. As illustrated in Figure 6, the raised pocket 40 has two levels 42 and 44. A first sloped side 46 leads up from the surface of the pool table to the first level 42 and a second sloped side 48 leads up from the first level 42 to the second level 44. In this embodiment, the raised pocket has at least one indentation and one or more indentations can be located on one of the levels or a plurality of levels, but the invention is not limited thereto. In addition, a multilevel pocket can be created by stacking single level pockets of different size on top of each other, but the invention is not limited thereto.

The raised pockets described above can be used to play a variety of new pool games. Some of these new pool games will now be described below but the invention is not limited thereto.

According to one embodiment of the invention, a single raised pocket is used and is located on the playing surface of a pool table. For example, a raised pocket 20 is placed approximately in the middle of the pool table 10 as illustrated in Figure 7. Different sized raised pockets can be used to change the difficulty of the game, wherein the difficulty of the game generally increases as the dimensions of the raised pocket and the indentation are reduced.

The first set of games to be described are a variation of 8-ball with the incorporation of the raised pocket into the game. To begin the game, a plurality of pool balls are placed (racked) in a starting position on a first spot 50, but the invention is not limited thereto. As illustrated in Figure 7, the game begins with 1 5 balls and a cue ball. The 15 pool balls are racked using a triangular rack on the first spot 50. Alternatively, the game can begin with 9 balls racked with a diamond shaped rack on the first spot 50 as illustrated in Figure 8. Alternatively, the game can begin with 7 balls racked by a circular rack on the first spot 50 as illustrated in Figure 9. It will be understood by one skilled in the art that the balls can be racked in any location on the table in any configuration and the invention is not limited thereto. For example, the pool balls may be racked in such a manner that one or more of the pool balls are located on the raised pocket 20. In all of the versions of the game described above (using 15, 9 or 7 balls), the pool balls are divided into a plurality of sets. First, an object ball, for example, the 8-ball, is designated. The remaining even number of balls are then divided into two sets, for example, solids and strips. The object of this first set of games is to hit all of the balls including the object ball onto the raised pocket with the correct speed so that the balls come to rest in the indentation on the raised pocket. If the object ball is legally hit onto the raised pocket and the object ball comes to rest in the indentation on the raised pocket, the player who hit the object ball is declared the winner of the game.

To begin play, a player is selected to take the first shot, wherein the player hits the cue ball with a pool cue from behind the second spot 52 to break apart the racked pool balls. If one of the pool balls goes into a pocket during the first shot, the first player is awarded that set of balls and the other player is awarded the other set of balls. If more than a single ball is pocketed, the player is awarded the set of balls corresponding to the set with the most balls that went in the pockets. If no ball are pocketed or if the same number of balls from each set are pocketed, no set is awarded until the next ball is hit onto the raised pocket. In the alternative, one of the sets of balls can be assigned to each player before play begins. If the object ball is hit into a pocket on the break, the object ball is placed on the first spot 50 and the game continues. If the object ball ends up in the indentation on the raised pocket on the first shot, that player is declared the winner.

After the racked balls are broke using the cue ball, the cue ball is removed from the table and the players alternate turns hitting their assigned balls in an attempt to hit their assigned balls onto the raised pocket. When a player hits one or more of their assigned balls onto a raised pocket, the player receives another turn. Once the player has hit all of their assigned balls onto the raised pocket, the player then attempts to hit the object ball onto the raised pocket 20. The first player to legally hit the object ball onto the raised pocket is declared the winner of the game. According to another embodiment of the invention, when a player is attempting to hit the object ball onto the raised pocket after pocketing all of their assigned balls, the object ball must come into contact with the raised pocket or else the player is penalized. For example, the player may lose the game if the object ball does not hit the raised pocket. Alternatively, the player must place one of their pocketed balls back on the first spot 50 if the object ball does not hit the pocket.

According to another embodiment of the invention, a variation on the 9- ball game is disclosed incorporating the use of a raised pocket. In regular 9-ball, players attempt to hit the balls in rotation, that is they must be targeted in numerical sequence starting with the one ball. It is important to note that the balls do not necessarily need to be pocketed in numerical sequence. As long as the correct ball is truck first by the cue ball, any ball can be pocketed and the player is awarded another turn. The game continues until a player pockets the 9-ball. According to the new game shown in this embodiment of the invention, 9-ball is played by requiring the players to hit the balls with a pool cue onto the raised pocket 20. After the initial break of the racked balls with the cue ball, the cue ball is removed from the table and the players attempt to hit the balls onto the raised pocket 20. As in the traditional game, a player can win at any point in the game by successfully hitting the 9-ball onto the raised pocket so long as the correct ball is struck first.

According to another embodiment of the invention, all of the pool balls must be hit into a single indentation in the raised pocket. The traditional 8-ball and 9-ball game rules can be used except that the balls must be hit into the indentation on the raised pocket rather than the pockets of the pool table. In one embodiment of the invention, the raised pocket has an indentation 102 which is large enough to hold all of the pool balls 104 and the pool balls are not removed from the raised pocket when they are successfully hit onto the raised pocket as illustrated in Figure 10.

According to another embodiment of the invention, a shootout game can be played with one or more raised pockets. According to one embodiment of the invention, the raised stand can be located at one end of the pool table, for example on the head spot. The players then alternate turns trying to successfully hit a pool ball onto the raised pocket. The first person to hit a predetermined number of pool balls onto the raised stand is the winner. For example, each player may hit from the foot spot of the pool table but the invention is not limited thereto. In the alternative, the raised pocket may be located near the center of the pool table, and each player may have a plurality of balls lined up across the head spot line and the foot spot line. The players then either take turns or simultaneously try to hit their balls onto the raised pocket.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the above described games can be played with a plurality of raised pockets located on the surface of the pool table. The raised pockets can have the same shape and size or have different shapes and sizes. In addition, raised pockets may be placed near or on top of the pockets 12 of the pool table. In this embodiment, pool balls must be hit into the indentations on the raised pockets rather than in the pockets 12. Furthermore, the object ball can be hit onto any of the raised pockets or only onto a specific raised pocket to win the game.

According to another embodiment of the invention, players can play a game where they are awarded points for successfully hitting pool balls into indentations on one or more raised pockets. The raised pocket 20 can have a plurality of different sized indentations as illustrated in Figure 5, wherein a player receives different point values for hitting a pool ball into different sized indentations. For example, a player may receive 1 point for hitting a ball into the large indentation 56, 2 points for hitting a ball into the medium sized indentation 57, and 5 points for hitting a ball into the small hole 58. The players take turns hitting the pool balls without using the cue ball into the indentations on the raised pocket and the first player to total a predetermined number of points is declared the winner of the game. Alternatively, the same game can be played with a plurality of different sized raised pockets with single or multiple indentations.

According to another embodiment of the invention, all of the games described above and obvious variations thereof can be played with a multilevel raised pocket as illustrated in Figure 6. Furthermore, the multilevel raised pocket can have one or more indentations.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a game can be played using a plurality of raised pockets located on the playing surface of a pool table. The game will now be described with reference to Figure 1 1 . In this embodiment, two target raised pockets 220 and 222 are placed on the playing surface 210 of the pool table 200. As illustrated in Figure 1 1 , one target raised pocket 220 is placed over the head spot on the playing surface 210 and the second target raised pocket 222 is placed over the foot spot on the playing surface 210, but the invention is not limited thereto. In addition, blocking raised pockets 224 and 226 are placed near the target raised pockets 220, 222, respectively, and are placed towards the center of the pool table 200. In one embodiment, the blocking raised pockets 224, 226 are placed approximately 4.5 inches from their target raised pocket, but the invention is not limited thereto.

According to one embodiment of the invention, each game starts with each player (or team) getting five balls, one player (or team) getting the five solid balls 230 (2-3-4-5, and the 1 ball as their Initial Object Ball) and the other player (or team) getting the five striped balls 232 (1 1 -12-13-14, and the 15 as their Initial Object Ball). Four of the balls are to be spotted in their proper game starting positions and lined up with the head and foot spots and the diamonds on the bumpers as illustrated in Figure 1 1. Each player is assigned the target raised pocket which is at the opposite end of the pool table from their assigned set of balls. The balls are positioned from the lowest number to highest number, left to right, with the Initial Object Balls ( 1 ball and the 15 ball) behind the target raised pockets. The balls shown next to side bumpers (2, 5, 1 1 , and 14) are not frozen to the cushion/rail and should be placed approximately ¾" off the rail (width of a chalk cube). In addition, the cue ball is originally placed in the approximate middle of the pool table 200.

At the count of three ("1 -2-3- shoot"), and at approximately the same time, both players shoot their "Game Starting Object Ball" (either the 1 or 15 ball) into opposite side bumpers towards their target raised Pocket. Each player will be attempting to bank their "Game Starting Object Ball" onto, or as close to, their target raised pocket. The player that makes their "Game Starting Object Ball" onto their target raised pocket, or lands closest to their target raised pocket, gets to shoot next. In the event of a tie or both players pocketing the opening shot, both players shoot again from their initial "Game Starting Object Ball" original game starting position. It will be understood that the players do not have to hit their first shot at the same time and may alternate the first shot and the invention is not limited thereto. A 2 cushion bank shot hitting the side rail first and then the end rail is the standard opening shot. While the players do not have to shoot that exact shot, the players must shoot at opposite side bumpers to start the game.

A player must pocket their "Game Starting Object Ball" ( 1 or 15 ball) onto their target raised pocket before that player is allowed to shoot any of their other object balls. Once a player has pocketed their "Game Starting Object Ball" onto their target raised pocket, that player may then, and only then, start to shoot at their other object balls and in any order the player chooses. When the "Game Starting Object Ball", or any object ball thereafter, is pocketed onto a target raised pocket, the player shooting gets to continue shooting but must first remove the ball from the target raised pocket (put it in any drop pocket prior to shooting their next shot).

The player shooting can never make any of their object ball/s, their opponent's object ball/s, or the cue ball, touch their opponent's "Initial Object Ball". If this occurs, the offending player loses their turn and their opponent gets any ball in hand and in this case they must take the game starting ball in hand. During this shot, if the player shooting happens to make one of their own object balls, including the cue ball, onto their target raised pocket, the object ball is considered a made shot (remove it from the table), the player shooting still loses their turn, and their opponent gets "Game starting Ball in Hand". One exception to this rule applies if the player shooting opponent's "Initial Object Ball" is resting against or contacting the shooting player's target raised pocket. Another exception occurs if on the opening break shot the Game Starting Object Balls contact each other. If this occurs, no penalty is assessed and play continues as normal.

Once a player has pocketed their "Game Starting Object Ball" the Cue ball may be used just like any of the player's other object balls and the same rules apply. If the player shooting makes the Cue ball onto their target raised pocket, the player shooting gets to take any one (1) of their remaining object balls off the table, the Cue ball gets returned to its game starting center spot location, and the same player continues to shoot. If the cue ball cannot be spotted at the center of the table due to another ball is occupying that space, the player shooting will place the Cue ball as close to the center spot (either to the left or right side of the interfering ball).

The player shooting cannot shoot the Cue ball with the cue stick, from the Center Spot of the table, directly over a blocking raised pocket. If a player shoots the cue ball directly over a blocking raised pocket and makes it into their target raised pocket the player shooting loses their turn, does not score a point, the Cue ball is returned to its original game starting Center Spot position and the non- offending player gets "Any Ball in Hand". If the player does shoot this shot and does not pocket it onto their target raised pocket, play continues as normal.

The player shooting can shoot any of their primary object balls (#'s 1 -8), from any location on the table, including the Center Spot, directly over a blocking raised pocket, and onto the player's target raised pocket.

The player shooting is cautioned to not shoot any ball/s too hard/fast. Any ball shot too hard or fast over, or into, a raised Pocket may cause the ball/s to jump off the table. A Penalty will be incurred for any ball/s knocked/shot off the table. If a ball, or balls, is shot/knocked off the table, the ball, or balls, are spotted back to their original game starting position/s, the offending player loses their turn, and their opponent gets any two (2) balls off the table.

The player shooting must make at least one (1) ball (any ball, including their opponents balls, and/or the Cue ball) contact a rail, a drop pocket (side or corner pockets), or any one of the four (4) raised Pockets during the course of a shot. Remember, the player shooting does not have to hit a ball and then rail. The player only has to make a ball hit a rail, a drop pocket, or any raised Pocket at anytime during the shot. If the shooting player's "shot" fails to contact a rail, drop pocket, or any raised pocket, the offending player's opponent gets "Any Ball in Hand".

The player shooting is not allowed to shoot directly at their opponent's ball with any of their object balls, or the Cue ball (if using the Cue ball as the shooter's object ball). Their object ball, or Cue ball, must first contact a rail, another one of their object balls, the cue ball, or any raised pocket, prior to hitting their opponent's ball. Contacting your opponents ball directly will result in the offending object ball (the ball you shot) being spotted to its game starting position and "Any Ball in Hand" for the non-offending player.

The player shooting is allowed to shoot their object ball, or Cue ball, directly into any of their other object balls (including the Cue ball). However, the player shooting, on every shot, must make at least one (1) ball on the table (either their object balls, their opponent's object balls , or the Cue ball) contact a rail, drop pocket, or one of the (4) raised pockets at some point during the shot. Unlike regular pocket billiards, the ball does not have to hit a ball first and then a rail. Failing to hit a cushion, drop pocket, or raised pocket at some point during the course of the shot will result in loss of turn and "Any Ball in Hand" for the non-offending player and the offending ball is moved to its game starting position.

If the player shooting pockets one, or more, of their own balls, or the Cue ball, into a drop pocket (corner or side pocket), it is considered a scratch shot. If this occurs, the player shooting loses their turn, the scratched ball gets spotted onto its game starting position (or if the scratched ball's game starting position is covered by another ball/s, the scratched ball is to be spotted on the lowest number available spot mark along the head or foot string), and their opponent gets "Any Ball in Hand". One exception to this rule is if the player shooting happens to make one (1) of their object balls, including the Cue ball, onto their target raised pocket during the same shot, the ball made onto the target raised pocket is considered a made shot, the player shooting still loses their turn shooting and their opponent receives any ball in hand.

If a player legally pockets one of their opponents balls into a drop pocket (corner or side pocket), the pocketed ball gets spotted back to its original game starting position (or if the scratched ball's game starting position is covered by another ball/s, the scratched ball is to be spotted on the lowest number available spot mark along the head or foot string spot marks), and the player shooting loses their turn. However, if during this same shot, the player makes one of their object balls onto their target raised pocket the player gets to continue shooting!"

If the player shooting pockets one, or more, balls (theirs or their opponents) onto any blocking raised pocket, the pocketed ball gets spotted back to its original game starting position, the player shooting loses their turn, and their opponent shoots next. However, during the same shot, if the player shooting pockets one of their object balls onto their target raised pocket the ball pocketed onto the target raised pocket is considered a made shot, the ball made onto the blocking raised pocket still gets spotted at its original game starting position, and the player gets to continue shooting.

A player cannot "Double Hit" or "Push" a ball with the Cue stick. If this occurs, the offending player loses his turn, the offended ball is relocated to its original game starting position, and the offending players' opponent gets "Any Ball in Hand".

If a player accidentally or purposely shoots at the wrong group of balls with the cue stick (opponents group) during their turn shooting, the player has committed a foul. Penalty- If this happens, the offending player loses their turn, the offended ball get placed back at the spot it was prior to the foul. If the offended ball contacts/hits one or more balls on the table, their opponent has the option to move all the balls back as close to their location prior to the shot and receives "Any Ball in Hand".

Accidently touching or moving balls prior to or during a shot is a foul. If a player purposely or accidentally moves a ball with their body, cue or anything else prior to a shot (perhaps while getting down into a shot), that player must notify their opponent and their opponent has the right to move that ball back or to leave it where it is. If the offending player picks up the ball without asking their opponent what they would like to do, the player has now committed a foul. The player loses their turn and their opponent receives any ball in hand. If a player accidentally moves a ball during the course of a shot (after they have started balls in motion or during the stroke), the player has committed a foul and their opponent receives any ball in hand with the option to replace moved balls back as close to their original position as possible.

If a player pockets their last object into a drop pocket, or any unintended pocket, and, at the same time successfully pockets the Cue Ball into their "Target Pocket", the player wins the game.

"Any Ball in Hand" means that a player is allowed to move any one of their object balls, including their Game starting ball or the Cue ball, to any place on the table and shoot that ball from there. A player cannot move any ball, any place, and then shoot at a different ball. In addition, the player must shoot the object ball that they moved or relocated.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the game can be played with partners (2-person team maximum) using alternate shot, or shoot to you miss, formats. However, this should be announced prior to play beginning. It is not a penalty for partners to shoot out of turn if the opponent or opponents allow them to do so without speaking up prior to the shot.

The first player who legally shoots all five of their object balls onto their target raised pocket, Wins the Game. The Cue ball can be used to make the winning shot. If a player has only one (1) primary object ball remaining on the table, the player can choose to shoot the Cue ball directly onto their target raised pocket and win the game. If the player makes this shot, the player wins the game.

Any time after a player has pocketed their Game starting Object Ball, the player can choose to directly bank the Cue ball, off one or more bumpers and onto their target raised pocket to win the game. The player must call the shot, "Instant WIN Shot!" To avoid any controversy over whether the player shooting "Called the Instant Win Shot" or not, the player must physically place a coin next to the Cue ball and then shoot the shot but the invention is not limited thereto. If the player makes the shot, the player wins the game instantly. If the player misses the shot, the player loses their turn shooting, the Cue ball stays where it lies, and their opponent gets to take any one (1) ball of their choice off the table and it's their turn to shoot. If the player shooting misses the shot and their opponent only had one (1 ) object ball left on the table, their opponent would win the game.

If the player shooting pockets one of their opponent's balls onto their own target raised pocket, the player shooting wins the game instantly. Conversely, if the player shooting accidently pockets one of their own balls, or the cue ball, onto their opponent's target raised pocket, the player shooting Loses the Game Instantly.

According to another embodiment of the invention as illustrated in Figure 12, the pool tables, pool games and raised pockets described above can all be simulated on a computer system 130, wherein players can play virtual pool on the computer system 130. The players communicate with a computer 131 using a user interface 132, such as a game controller, joystick or keyboard but the invention is not limited thereto. The players will use their user interfaces 132 to aim their shots and to control how hard the pool balls are hit. A list of the pool games mentioned above can be displayed on a display screen 134 of the computer system 130. The players can then select a game form the list using the user interface 132. Furthermore, the players can select the level of difficulty of the game. In the alternative, the game can begin at a simple level and advance to harder levels of play once the present level has been successfully completed. In addition, the players can be able to set various variables in the game. For example, the players can be able to select the size and shape of the playing surface, the size and shape of the raised pockets, the size and shape of the indentations on the raised pockets, and even the location of optional obstacles on the virtual playing surface and the invention is not limited thereto.

In another embodiment of the invention according to Figure 13, a computer-readable medium 140 is illustrated schematically. The computer- readable medium 140 has embodied thereon a computer program 142 for simulating a pool game, for processing by a computer 144. The computer program comprises a code segment 145 for placing a plurality of pool balls in a starting position on the playing surface of the pool table, wherein the plurality of pool balls is comprised of an object ball and a plurality of different sets of pool balls; a code segment 146 for shooting an initial shot to break the pool balls from their starting position using a cue ball and a cue stick; a code segment 147 for removing the cue ball from the playing surface of the pool table; a code segment 148 for alternating turns between a plurality of players, wherein each player attempts to hit balls from a set of pool balls assigned to that player into an indentation on a top level of a raised pocket located on the playing surface of the pool table; and a code segment 149 for hitting the object ball into an indentation on a top level of the raised pocket located on the playing surface of the pool table once a player has hit all of their assigned balls onto the raised pocket, wherein the game ends when the object ball comes to rest in the indentation on the raised pocket.

In another embodiment of the invention according to Figure 14, a computer-readable medium 150 is illustrated schematically. The computer- readable medium 150 has embodied thereon a computer program 152 for simulating a pool game, for processing by a computer 1 54. The computer program comprises a code segment 155 for placing a plurality of pool balls in starting positions on the playing surface of the pool table, wherein the plurality of pool balls is divided into two equal groups; a code segment 156 for placing a first target raised pocket and a first blocking raised pocket at first predetermined locations on the playing surface of the pool table; a code segment 157 for placing a second target raised pocket and a second blocking raised pocket at second predetermined locations on the playing surface of the pool table; a code segment 158 for assigning each player a different target raised pocket and a set of pool balls; a code segment 159 for each player hitting a ball from their assigned set of pool balls toward their assigned target raised pocket, wherein the player who leaves their ball closest to their assigned target raised pocket gets the next turn; and a code segment 160 for alternating turns between the plurality of players wherein each player attempts to hit all of their assigned pool balls onto their assigned target raised packet, wherein the game ends when one of the players hits all of their assigned pool balls onto their assigned target raised pocket.

In another embodiment of the invention according to Figure 15, a computer-readable medium 170 is illustrated schematically. The computer- readable medium 170 has embodied thereon a computer program 172 for simulating a pool game, for processing by a computer 174. The computer program comprises a code segment 175 for placing a plurality of pool balls in a starting position on the playing surface of the pool table; a code segment 176 for alternating turns between a plurality of players, wherein each player attempts to hit one or more of the pool balls, using a pool cue, into an indentation on a top level of at least one raised pocket located on the playing surface of the pool table.

The many features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the detailed specification, and thus, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such features and advantages of the invention which fall within the true spirits and scope of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and variations will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation illustrated and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A method for playing a game on a pool table, comprising the steps of:

placing a plurality of pool balls in starting positions on the playing surface of the pool table, wherein the plurality of pool balls is divided into two equal groups;

placing a first target raised pocket and a first blocking raised pocket at first predetermined locations on the playing surface of the pool table;

placing a second target raised pocket and a second blocking raised pocket at second predetermined locations on the playing surface of the pool table;

assigning each player a different target raised pocket and a set of pool balls;

each player hitting a ball from their assigned set of pool balls toward their assigned target raised pocket, wherein the player who leaves their ball closest to their assigned target raised pocket gets the next turn; and

alternating turns between the plurality of players wherein each player attempts to hit all of their assigned pool balls onto their assigned target raised packet, wherein the game ends when one of the players hits all of their assigned pool balls onto their assigned target raised pocket.

2. The method according to claim 1 1 , wherein each set of pool balls comprises 5 pool balls.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first target raised pocket is placed on the head spot of the pool table, and the second target raised pocket is placed on the foot spot of the pool table.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the first blocking raised pocket is placed near the first target raised pocket towards the center of the pool table, and the second blocking raised pocket is placed near the second target raised pocket towards the center of the pool table.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the first blocking raised pocket is placed towards the center of the table approximately 4.5 inches from the first target raised pocket, and the second blocking raised pocket is placed towards the center of the table approximately 4.5 inches from the second target raised pocket.

6. The method according to claim 3, wherein each player's set of pool balls is set up at one end of the pool table and their assigned target raised pocket is located at the other end of the pool table.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein at least four of the pool balls are arranged in a line with the head or foot spot.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein one ball is located behind the other players target raised pocket.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the players use the pool ball located behind the other players target raised pocket during the first shot.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein each player

approximately simultaneously strike the first shot.

1 1. The method according to claim 9, wherein each player's pool ball must hit at least two bumpers on the first shot.

12. The method according to claim 1 1 , wherein the players can only hit the first ball hit during subsequent shots until that first ball is successfully hit onto their target raised pocket.

13. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the cue ball is originally placed in the approximate middle of the table to begin play.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein any player may attempt to hit the cue ball onto their target raised pocket after the player has successfully shot their first pool ball onto their target raised pocket.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein any player may remove any of their assigned pool balls from the table if the player successfully hits the cue ball onto their target raised pocket, wherein the cue ball is placed back in the approximate middle of the table and the player receives an additional turn.

16. The method according to claim 13, wherein any player attempting to hit the cue ball from its original position in the approximate middle of the table, must hit at least one bumper before hitting their target raised pocket.

17. The method according to claim 1 , wherein any player receives an additional turn after successfully hitting one of their assigned balls onto their target raised pocket.

18. The method according to claim 1, wherein a player must cause at least one pool ball to hit a bumper or one of the raised pockets during each turn.

19. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a player must hit a pool ball into a bumper before the hit pool ball strikes one of the other player's pool balls.

20. The method according to claim 1 , wherein any pool balls hit onto a blocking raised pocket are placed back on their starting position.

21. The method according to claim 13, wherein during any turn after a player has successfully hit their first ball onto their target raised pocket a player can instantly win the game by hitting the cue ball off at least one bumper and onto their target raised pocket.

22. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the raised pocket has sloped sides that lead to the top level and the top level has at least one indentation.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein the raised pocket can have any number of sides and shapes.

24. The method according to claim 22, wherein the raised pocket is approximately 4.5 inches in diameter and the indentation is approximately 3 inches in diameter.

25. The method according to claim 22, wherein the indentation is bottomless.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein the raised pocket is shaped like a ring with sloping sides which slope towards the middle of the raised pocket.

27. The method according to claim 22, wherein the raised pocket has diameter between 3 - 5 inches and the indentation has a diameter between 1.5 4 inches.

28. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the raised pocket is comprised of at least one of metal, metal composite, plastic, wood, glass, resin, rubber or stone.

29. The method according to claim 28, wherein the raised pocket has a durometer value greater than 10.

30. The method according to claim 28, wherein the raised pocket has a durometer value greater than 37.

31. The method according to claim 22, wherein the sloping sides have a slope between 5°- 70°.

32. The method according to claim 22, wherein the sloping sides have a slope between 25°- 30°.

33. The method according to claim 22, wherein the indentation takes up substantially all of the top level of the raised pocket.

34. The method according to claim 22, wherein the indentation has a depth of at least 0.125 inches.

35. The method according to claim 22, wherein the raised pocket has a height of at least 0.125 inches.

36. A method for playing a game on a pool table, comprising the steps of:

placing a plurality of pool balls in a starting position on the playing surface of the pool table;

alternating turns between a plurality of players, wherein each player attempts to hit one or more of the pool balls, using a pool cue, into an indentation on a top level of at least one raised pocket located on the playing surface of the pool table.

37. The method according to claim 36, wherein said plurality of balls is comprised of an object ball and a plurality of different sets of balls, wherein each player is assigned a set of balls and the players alternate turns during which each player attempts to hit a ball from their assigned set of balls into the indentation one the at least one raised pocket.

38. The method according to claim 37, wherein after a player has hit all of their assigned balls into the indentation on the raised pocket, the player attempts to win the game by hitting the object ball into the indentation on the raised pocket.

39. The method according to claim 36, wherein a raised pocket is located near or covering each pocket of the pool table.

40. The method according to claim 39, wherein another raised pocket is placed approximately in the center of the pool table.

41. The method according to claim 40, wherein a player must hit the object ball onto the indentation on the raised pocket near the middle of the table to win the game.

42. The method according to claim 36, wherein the raised pocket has sloped sides that lead to a top level and the top level has at least one indentation.

43. The method according to claim 42, wherein the raised pocket can have any number of sides and shapes.

44. The method according to claim 42, wherein the at least one indentation is a substantially circular hole with substantially vertical sides.

45. The method according to claim 44, wherein the raised pocket is approximately 4.5 inches in diameter and the indentation is approximately 3 inches in diameter.

46. The method according to claim 36, wherein the raised pocket is comprised of at least one of metal, metal composite, plastic, wood, glass, resin, rubber or stone.

47. The method according to claim 46, wherein the raised pocket has a durometer value greater than 25.

48. The method according to claim 36, wherein the raised pocket has multiple levels with multiple ramps and at least one indentation on the top level of the raised pocket.

49. The method according to claim 48, wherein the raised pocket has at least one indentation on multiple levels.

50. The method according to claim 36, wherein the indentation takes up a portion of the top level of the raised pocket.

51. The method according to claim 36, wherein the indentation takes up substantially all of the top level of the raised pocket.

52. The method according to claim 42, wherein said at least one raised pocket has a plurality of different sized indentations on the top surface, wherein a player receives different point values for hitting a pool ball into one of the different sized indentations on the raised pocket.

53. The method according to claim 52, wherein the player receives more points for hitting the ball into smaller sized indentations on the raised pocket.

54. The method according to claim 42, wherein a plurality of different sized raised pockets are located on the pool table, and a player receives more points for hitting a ball into the indentations on the smaller sized raised pockets.

55. A computer readable medium storing code for simulating a pool game, said code comprising:

code for placing a plurality of pool balls in a starting position on the playing surface of the pool table, wherein the plurality of pool balls is comprised of an object ball and a plurality of different sets of pool balls; code for shooting an initial shot to break the pool balls from their starting position using a cue ball and a cue stick;

code for removing the cue ball from the playing surface of the pool table;

code for alternating turns between a plurality of players, wherein each player attempts to hit balls from a set of pool balls assigned to that player into an indentation on a top level of a raised pocket located on the playing surface of the pool table; and

code for hitting the object ball into an indentation on a top level of the raised pocket located on the playing surface of the pool table once a player has hit all of their assigned balls onto the raised pocket, wherein the game ends when the object ball comes to rest in the indentation on the raised pocket.

56. A computer readable medium storing code for simulating a pool game, said code comprising: code for placing a plurality of pool balls in starting positions on the playing surface of the pool table, wherein the plurality of pool balls is divided into two equal groups;

code for placing a first target raised pocket and a first blocking raised pocket at first predetermined locations on the playing surface of the pool table; code for placing a second target raised pocket and a second blocking raised pocket at second predetermined locations on the playing surface of the pool table;

code for assigning each player a different target raised pocket and a set of pool balls;

code for each player hitting a ball from their assigned set of pool balls toward their assigned target raised pocket, wherein the player who leaves their ball closest to their assigned target raised pocket gets the next turn; and

code for alternating turns between the plurality of players wherein each player attempts to hit all of their assigned pool balls onto their assigned target raised packet, wherein the game ends when one of the players hits all of their assigned pool balls onto their assigned target raised pocket.

57. A computer readable medium storing code for simulating a pool game, said code comprising:

code for placing a plurality of pool balls in a starting position on the playing surface of the pool table;

code for alternating turns between a plurality of players, wherein each player attempts to hit one or more of the pool balls, using a pool cue, into an indentation on a top level of at least one raised pocket located on the playing surface of the pool table.