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  Pocket billiards instructional deviceUSPTO Application #: 20060128488Title: Pocket billiards instructional device Abstract: Provided is a pocket billiards instructional device including a stand, a target optical head, and an object optical head. The target optical head defines a principal axis and is selectively rotatable thereabout. The target optical head is operative to emit a target optical beam and is attachable to the stand. The object optical head is operative to emit an object optical beam, is selectively rotatable about the principal axis relative to the target optical head and is attachable to the stand. (end of abstract) Agent: Stetina Brunda Garred & Brucker - Aliso Viejo, CA, US Inventor: Harry J. Pappas USPTO Applicaton #: 20060128488 - Class: 473002000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Games Using Tangible Projectile, Billiards Or Pool, Practice Device Or Device To Aid In Aiming Cue Or Cue Ball During Shots (e.g., To Assist In Bank Shots, Etc.) The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060128488. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] Not Applicable STATEMENT RE: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT [0002] Not Applicable BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] The present invention relates generally to billiard games, and more particularly, to a uniquely configured pool instructional device and methodology specifically adapted for illuminating a strike point of an object ball and illuminating a projected path of the object ball to a target pocket. [0004] Pocket billiards is a recreational game enjoyed by many people of various ages, interests, and skill levels. As is well known, the object of pocket billiards is to sink a certain number of object balls into various pockets of a pool table using of a cue ball and a cue stick. In the course of sinking an object ball, a pool player must understand how to properly aim the cue ball so that it strikes the object ball and causes the object ball to follow a path towards the target pocket. As many may testify, the skill of aiming is often a difficult one to hone. [0005] In developing the skill of aiming the cue ball, a player should visualize the geometric linear relationship between the cue ball, the object ball and the target hole. Most players understand that when struck by the cue ball, the path along which the object ball travels is dependent upon the position on which the object ball is struck. For example, a player may know that striking an object ball from the left causes the object ball to move to the right, and vice versa. Nevertheless, despite the simplicity of the geometric linear relationship, the player may realize that the object ball must be struck precisely in order to achieve a desired result. More specifically, the object ball will travel along a straight line originating at where the cue ball contacts the object ball and extending through a center of the object ball. [0006] Applying this principle generally, where the object ball need not rebound from an edge of the pool table to enter the target pocket, the player may visualize the straight line passing from the target pocket and through the center of the object ball to a strike point on the surface of the object ball. It is this strike point that a player must hit when contacting the object ball with the cue ball in order to cause the object ball to enter the target pocket. Thus, according to this methodology, in order to strike the object ball for a precise result, the player must visualize not only the straight line originating from the target pocket through the center of the object ball, but the player must also visualize the strike point of the object ball. [0007] Included in the prior art are several devices and methods directed towards aiding a pool player in refining the skill of aiming a cue ball. For example, some prior art devices attach a laser sighting device to a cue stick in order to aid the player in visualizing the path of a cue ball. Similar inventions place the laser guide inside of the cue stick. Yet other inventions utilize optical mirrors spaced along the edges of a pool table in conjunction with the aforementioned laser sighting device. However, applicant is unaware of any device which displays the aforementioned straight line that the object ball must travel in addition to displaying the strike point of the object ball. [0008] As can be seen, there exists a need in the art for a pool instructional device that accurately indicates the location of the strike point on an object ball as well as the projected path of the object ball toward the target pocket once hit at the strike point. Furthermore, there exists a need in the art for a pool instructional device configured to provide a visual display of an approach path of the object ball as it approaches the edge of the pool table and the reflection path of the object ball. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0009] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention provided is a pocket billiards instructional device. The pocket billiards instructional device comprises a stand, a target optical head, and an object optical head. The target optical head may define a principal axis and may be selectively rotatable thereabout. The target optical head may be operative to omit a target optical beam and may be attachable to the stand. The object optical head may be operative to emit an object optical beam and may be selectively rotatable about the principal axis relative to the target optical head. The object optical head may be attachable to the stand. [0010] According to an aspect of the present invention, the object optical head may be independently rotatable about the principal axis. In this regard, the target optical beam may be projectable generally within a target plane defined by the principal axis and a target pocket sensor point. The target optical beam may be projectable toward a target pocket for illuminating a target path on a pocket billiards table. The target beam may be configured as a laser line. According to another aspect of the present invention, the object optical beam may be projectable generally within an object plane defined by the principal axis and an object ball center ball. Thus the object optical beam may be projectable toward an object ball for illuminating one of a strike point on the object ball and an approach path on the pocket billiards table. The object optical beam may be configured as one of the laser line and a laser point. [0011] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, the target optical head may further define a transverse target axis. The transverse target axis may be oriented orthogonally relative to the target plane. The target optical head may be selectively rotatable about the transverse target axis. The object optical head may further define a transverse object axis. The transverse object axis may be oriented orthogonally relative to the object plane. The object optical head may be selectively rotatable about the transverse object axis. [0012] The stand may be a tripod stand. Additionally, according to another aspect of the present invention, the stand may be removably attachable to an edge of the pocket billiards table. In this regard, the target optical head may include a target angle measuring tool that is operative to indicate an angle of incidence of the target path relative to a reference line, the reference line being oriented orthogonally relative to the edge of the pocket billiards table. The object optical head may also include an object angle measuring tool that is operative to indicate an angle of reflection of the object path relative to the reference line. In this regard, the target optical beam and the object optical beam may be lasers. Additionally, the target optical beam may be emitted from a target optical diode disposed within the target optical head and the object optical beam may be emitted from an object optical diode disposed within the optical head. [0013] According to another aspect of the present invention, a method of pocket billiards instruction utilizing a pocket billiards instructional device is provided. The method of pocket billiards instruction may be directed towards illuminating a strike point and a target path of an object ball toward a pocket. As was earlier mentioned, the pocket billiards instructional device including a principal axis, a target optical beam and an object optical beam. The target optical beam and the object optical beam may be generally coplanar within a target plane defined by the principal axis and a target pocket center point. [0014] The method of pocket billiards instruction may comprise the steps of linearly aligning an object ball center point with the target pocket center point to define the target path; positioning the pocket billiards device along the target path with the object ball intermediate the pocket billiards instructional device and the target pocket; orienting the object optical beam toward the strike point of the object ball and target optical beam towards the target pocket center point; and illuminating the strike point of the object ball with the object optical beam and the target path of the object ball with the target optical beam. In this regard, the aligning step may further include utilizing one of the target optical beam and the object optical beam to align the object ball center point with the target pocket center point. [0015] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method of illuminating an approach path of an object ball towards at least one edge of a pocket billiards table and illuminating a target path of the object ball reflecting off of the edge toward a target pocket is provided. The method may utilize the pocket billiards instructional device including the principal axis and the target optical beam being selectively rotatable thereabout. The target optical beam is projected generally within a target plane defined by the principal axis and a target pocket center point. The object optical beam being selectively rotatable about the principal axis relative to the target optical head and being projected generally within an object plane defined by the principal axis and an object ball center point wherein the object plane intersecting the target plane at the principal axis. [0016] The method may comprise the step of positioning the pocket billiards instructional device adjacent the edge of the pocket billiards table; orienting the object optical beam generally toward the object ball center point and the target optical beam generally toward the target pocket center point, the orientation of the object optical beam relative to a reference line defining an angle of incidence of the approach path. The reference line is oriented orthogonally relative to the edge of the pocket billiards table. The orientation of the target optical beam relative to the reference line defines an angle of reflection of the target path. The angle of incidence is generally equivalent to the angle of reflection. The method includes the steps of illuminating the approach path of the object ball with the object optical beam and illuminating the target path of the object ball with the target optical beam. [0017] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the method may further include an object angle measuring tool and a target angle measuring tool, the object angle measuring tool being operative to indicate the angle of incidence of the approach path relative to the reference line, and the target angle measuring tool being operative to indicate the angle of reflection of the target path relative to the reference line. In this regard, the orienting step may further include utilizing the object angle measuring tool and a target measuring tool to generally equate the angle of incidence to the angle of reflection. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0018] An illustrative and presently preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings (with phantom lines depicting solely environmental structure which forms no part of the claimed device) in which: [0019] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pocket billiards instructional device illustrating the relationship of a stand, a target optical head, and an object optical head; Continue reading... Full patent description for Pocket billiards instructional device Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Pocket billiards instructional device patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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