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Methods and apparatuses for time-constrained games of billiards, pool and the like

Methods and apparatuses for time-constrained games of billiards, pool and the like description/claims

The field of the invention is pool and billiards tables and methods for use thereof.

There are numerous types of billiards and pool games (hereinafter “billiard games”) played around the world. The games generally entail a rectangular felt covered table having 6 pockets, a number of object balls and a cue ball. The games generally involve driving the cue ball against object balls such that said object balls go into one of the pockets. Popular billiards games include 8-ball, 9-ball, One Pocket and Cutthroat. The equipment necessary to play these types of games, including tables, balls, cue sticks, triangles, chalk and other implements are available commercially from a variety of vendors.

Billiard games are also available virtually, for example as video games or online games. Popular billiards video game titles include “Backspin Billiards” available at Yahoo!® Games and Arcade_Pool_II from Team17 Software Ltd.

Valley-Dynamo (www.valley-dynamo.com) apparently produces and sells a billiards table for playing SpeedPool™. SpeedPool appears to be a single player game in which a player is generally timed as he or she sinks all fifteen balls in any order, as long as the 8 ball is last, and where players who can sink all fifteen balls faster are considered better at the game.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,071,121 to Garret relates to a game score computing device. According to the patent disclosure, the device includes manually actuatable switch input means for inputting data corresponding to game scores of game players, and timing means for timing the duration of play of up to four SpeedPool™ players. A data processor responsive to the game score and the timing operation determine the winning player and display means responsive to the data processor provide a visual display identifying the winning player.

Billiards games, whether live or virtual, generally are not time constrained. This presents undesirable consequences, including that games can run long. Long games decrease the rentability of coin-operated pool tables while also frustrating customers waiting to play. Prolonged games also make televising competitive matches more difficult. Some televised 9-ball tournaments have implemented a shot-clock to keep the pace of the game. However the shot clock apparently is re-set after every shot, so there apparently is no limit on the overall amount of time a player may spend at the table during a game, or set of games (match) or the overall length of time a game or match may last, again causing some to become long and unexciting.

Accordingly, there is a need for apparatuses and methods of play for playing time constrained games of pool, billiards and the like.

In a first embodiment, the present invention is directed to novel methods for playing billiards, pool and the like. The method generally includes associating a first player with a first timer set to a first value of time and a second player with a second timer set to a second value of time. The players generally take turns according to the rules of a game of pool or billiard while having the time in the first timer expire during said first player's inning or set of innings and the time in the second timer expire during said second player's inning or set of innings. The game generally ends whenever (a) a player's timer completely expires or (b) a player succeeds in achieving the object of the game before said player's timer completely expires. The winner is generally the player having time remaining while said player's opponent's time has completely expired or the player who achieved the object of the game before said player's time completely expired.

In a second, independent embodiment, the preset invention is directed to a billiards table functionally associated with a timing device. The device generally includes a first timer adapted to be set to a first value greater than zero and a second timer adapted to be set to a second value greater than zero. One or more timer controllers are available to control the timers. Timer displays show the time remaining in each timer.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a billiards table including a device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a billiards table including a device in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a billiards table functionally associated with a device in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a billiards table functionally associated with a device in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a billiards table functionally associated with a device in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram of a routine in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention that enables the initial setting of a device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

• Provisional Patent
• Utility Patent

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