Billiards Tools and Methods

Abstract

A tool for assisting a billiards player to easily and accurately aim and direct the cue ball to strike a target ball an propel the target ball towards a target such as a pool table pocket. An aiming ring is placed on the billiards table adjacent to the target ball that allows the billiards player to automatically aim the cue ball and propel the target ball into a pocket or other desired location. A billiards goniometer tool is described to assist with bumper shots.

1 . An aiming tool to assist a billiards player for directing a cue ball from a cue ball initial location on a billiards table to a cue ball final location where said cue ball is able to strike a target ball and propel the target ball toward a target comprising,
 A. an aiming ring vertically displaced from said cue ball final location,   B. said target ball having a target ball vertical equator forming a target ball vertical equator plane, said target ball having a target ball horizontal central axis line directed toward said target and located within said target ball vertical equator plane; said target ball horizontal central axis line extending from a target ball contact point on a surface of said target ball to a target ball opposing pole located on said surface of said target ball nearest to said target,   C. a marking line on said aiming tool, said marking line being parallel with said target ball horizontal central axis line,   D. said aiming ring having an aiming ring center that is displaced along said marking line at a horizontal distance from said target ball contact point in a direction farther away from said target ball, said horizontal distance being equal to a radius of said cue ball,   E. said aiming ring center providing a shooting line toward which a center of said cue ball is directed toward said aiming ring center for said cue ball to strike said target ball and propel said target ball toward said target.   
     
     
         2 . The aiming tool of  claim 1  wherein said aiming ring is vertically displaced below said cue ball final location. 
     
     
         3 . The aiming tool of  claim 1  wherein said aiming ring is formed from a flat planar material having a thickness ranging from 0.001-0.010 inches. 
     
     
         4 . The aiming tool of  claim 3  wherein said flat planar material is a metal, plastic, composite, or paper. 
     
     
         5 . The aiming tool of  claim 1  wherein said aiming ring is circular having an aiming ring diameter that is equal to a cue ball diameter. 
     
     
         6 . The aiming tool of  claim 1  further comprising a carpet region located below a portion of said target ball. 
     
     
         7 . The aiming tool of  claim 6  wherein a portion of said carpet region makes contact with said target ball. 
     
     
         8 . The aiming tool of  claim 1  wherein said aiming ring is vertically displaced above said cue ball final location. 
     
     
         9 . The aiming tool of  claim 8  wherein said aiming ring is held above said cue ball final location such that said cue ball can roll below said aiming ring without contacting said aiming ring. 
     
     
         10 . The aiming tool of  claim 1  further comprising a cover located above a portion of said target ball. 
     
     
         11 . The aiming tool of  claim 10  wherein said cover is attached to support members that hold a portion of said cover above said target ball. 
     
     
         12 . The aiming tool of  claim 10  wherein said cover holds said aiming ring above said cue ball final location. 
     
     
         13 . An aiming tool to assist a billiards player for directing a cue ball from a cue ball initial location on a billiards table to a cue ball final location where said cue ball is able to contact a target ball and propel the target ball toward a target comprising,
 A. an aiming ring that is flat and circular, said aiming ring being vertically displaced from a cue ball final location, said aiming ring having an aiming ring diameter equal to a cue ball diameter,   B. a marking line along at least a portion of a diameter of said aiming ring, said marking line being directed toward said target,   C. an aiming ring contact point that is located along a perimeter of said of said aiming ring, said aiming ring contact point residing on said marking line or an extension of said marking line, said aiming ring contact point being displaced directly below a target ball contact point located within a target ball vertical equator, said target ball vertical equator forming a plane that passes through said target,   D. whereby said aiming ring does not interfere with a travel direction of said cue ball in traveling from an initial position on a billiards table along a shooting line directing said cue ball across said cue ball diameter toward said aiming ring across said aiming ring diameter to contact said target ball and propel said target ball toward said target.   
     
     
         14 . The aiming tool of  claim 12  further comprising a flat horizontal carpet that extends horizontally below a portion of said target ball. 
     
     
         15 . The aiming tool of  claim 13  wherein said flat horizontal carpet makes contact with said target ball. 
     
     
         16 . An aiming tool for directing a cue ball from a cue ball initial location on a billiards table to a cue ball final location on a billiards table to strike a target ball and propel said target ball towards a target, said aiming tool comprising,
 A. an aiming ring that is circular and extends in a horizontal plane, said aiming ring being vertically displaced from said cue ball final position, said aiming ring being located proximate to said target ball with an aiming ring center located a horizontal distance from a center of said target ball equal to a diameter of said cue ball,   B. said aiming ring having a marking line directed toward said target,   C. said aiming ring providing a shooting line for a center of said cue ball towards said aiming ring center,   whereby contact of said cue ball in said cue ball final location with said target ball propels said target ball towards said target.   
     
     
         17 . The aiming tool of  claim 16  wherein said aiming ring is displaced below said cue ball final location. 
     
     
         18 . The aiming tool of  claim 16  further comprising a flat horizontal carpet, said flat horizontal carpet being located below a portion of said target ball. 
     
     
         19 . The aiming tool of  claim 18  whereby said flat horizontal carpet makes contact with a portion of said target ball. 
     
     
         20 . The aiming tool of  claim 16  whereby said aiming ring is displaced above said cue ball final location.