| US4027883A | 1977-06-07 | |||
| GB2243085A | 1991-10-23 | |||
| US4531732A | 1985-07-30 | |||
| US3989244A | 1976-11-02 |
The claims defining the invention are as follows:
It is known to use a flat device for the purpose of aiming the cue ball to strike an object ball in the correct place. Such a device only takes into account the angles of contact of the balls and does not train the cue sports user in correct cue positioning, correct body alignment or cue follow through.
It is known to use a device with holes for the purpose of guiding the cue to maintain a straight follow through; this device does not show body alignment correct alignment to the users true sight line.
It is known to use a board with a horizontal line along its length and having a step down area on one end to enable the user to find their true sight line. This device does not show the user their body alignment, cue action or follow through action when playing an actual shot.
The present invention attempts to overcome at least in part the aforementioned disadvantages of previous cue sports training aids. The user can then use the reflective surface 12 to attempt to improve their cue action and thus the overall performance of cue sports. As seen in figure 5 the user can observe their body position via the reflective surface 12 including head, shoulders, arms and wrists and adjust accordingly to correct any deficiencies in body actions.
In use to find your true sight line, the mirrored device 10 is placed on a flat surface and with one eye closed, the user positions their head so that the vertical line 18 in the reflective surface 10 passes through the centre of the users open eye. A cue is positioned on the flat surface and aligned with the vertical line 18 in the reflective device 10 and the users open eye. This results in the users open eye, cue and vertical line 18 are all in alignment.
Both eyes are now to be open and without moving the reflective device 10 or cue, the user moves their head either left or right until the cue and vertical centre line 18 are again in alignment. This may involve moving the head over the cue such that the users dominant eye or some point between the users left and right eye is over the cue, allowing the user to aim where they are actually seeing. The cue guide 14 is a practice device away from the actual sports table and substitutes for a cue ball. It is aligned in the same manner as previously explained in the previous 2 paragraphs but instead of using a cue the grooves 17 in the guide 14 are aligned with the users open eye (the other closed) and the vertical line 18 in the reflective device 10. On a real table a real cue ball is used and aligned in the same way. In practise without a real sports table the user looks at the cue guide 14 in the reflective surface 12 rather than directly at the cue guide and this replicates the position of the object ball of the cue sport.
In practise with a real sports table the real cue ball is seen in the reflective surface as an object ball.
In both cases the user is focusing on an imaginary ball in the reflective surface 12 and able to see what is actually happening to their cue action when playing a shot or making contact with cue ball. |
Title: Cue sports training device.
The present invention relates to a cue sports training device.
The playing of cue games is mainly dependant on a straight cue action; the cue requires to be pointing where the player is seeing for it to travel to the required position. During the follow through of the shot the cue is required to stay on line and not move away from its intended path.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a cue sports training device comprising a substantially upright-mirrored device and a cue guide to achieve correct body and sight alignment and follow through.
The present invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is the front view of the mirrored device of the present invention.
Figure 2 is the side view of the mirrored device of figure 1.
Figure 3 is a front view of the cue guide device. Figure 4 is a side view of the guide device of figure 3. Figure 5 is a side view of environmental set up.
Referring to the figures there is a mirrored device 10 comprising a reflective surface 12 and two feet supports 13. The reflective surface 12, such as but not limited to a mirror or polished metal is substantially rectangularly shaped. The feet supports 13 are connected to the mirror device 10 by means of clip in slots and can be removed for ease of storage and packing. When correctly fitted the mirror device 10 stands upright on any flat surface such that the centre line 18 is substantially perpendicular to the flat surface 18.
In another embodiment of the present invention the feet supports 13 can be slightly higher to either the forward or rearward side allowing for the reflective surface to be angled greater than or less than 90 degrees to the flat surface to allow for an alternative view to assist in correct body position.
The mirrored device 10 is such sized that a standard cue ball can pass on the flat surface underneath. The height of the reflective surface is such that a cue sports player is able to see the position of their head, shoulders, elbow and hands while in the normal crouched playing position.
When in use, the vertical line 18 on the mirrored device 10 is also seen as horizontal line in the reflection by the user. It is this line that is used for finding the users sightline and cue alignment
The cue guide 14(see figure 3) contains an aperture that is substantially circular and located centrally in the guidel4. The central position of the aperture 16 is such that the cue can strike the cue ball centrally and achieve a straight shot. The dimensions of the aperture 16 are preferably of a size that allows a cue to pas through. The guide is suitably weighted with a weight 15 to alert the user that the cue has made contact with the guide 14. The height of the guide 14 is such that it approximates the height of the cue ball. A groove at the top and bottom of the guide 14 is centrally located so that it can be aligned with the vertical line 18 in the reflective surface 12.
In other embodiments, the aperture of the guide 14 can be located in a position other than centrally or within an adjustable cam, such as to position the cue relative to the cue ball to achieve any shot other than the one where the cue makes mid contact with the cue ball.
The mirrored device 10 and the cue guide 14 can be integrally moulded out of any composite, including but not limited to metal, wood and plastics.
Modifications and variations as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention.