This invention relates to a snooker cue action practise board.

Snooker is played by two or more players. The aim is to score points by potting (or pocketing) all the object balls (balls other than the white cue ball) in the correct sequence, at the same time your aim is to obstruct your opponents attempts to do the same. Object balls may only be potted or pocketed through contact with the white cue ball which is struck with the cue. However the game of snooker in most cases is a difficult game to master and in most cases can be an expensive game to practise especially for beginners. Two of the most important things to remember when practising or playing is to learn how to position oneself at the table and use the cue in the correct manner when playing a shot.

According to this invention here is a flat oblong board (the sizes given are only approximate to show a possible scale) dimensions are 730 mm long by 430 mm wide. The board will be a substitute for a snooker table surface where one will be using one end of the surface of the board to place ones bridge- hand and practise from. At the other end on the surface of the board at opposite corners, fixed in an upright position are two posts. In the center of each post is an elongated slit running almost from top to bottom and in line with each other. A measured length of looped rubberised band will be stretched between the posts, both looped ends will pass through the slits from the innermost edge to the outer and will be held in position by two plates. The slits in the posts will allow the plates and band to move up and down in a vertical line. The plates will have a special feature to lock them to the posts at any given height, (e.g. punched indentations on both plates and posts that will allow a locking male and female process to take place), (NOT SHOWN). The band will hold in place under its own tension. The two bands should be approximately 5 mm

apart. In the center of the bands will be fixed a cue button this cue button will be used to practise ones cue action, it is to replace the use of the white cue ball. The cue button is slightly larger than a cue tip and is concave on the side facing away from the bands. This will allow the cue tip to hold fast to the cue button when struck by the cue. It can be clearly seen if the cue button has been struck dead center or to one side.

The plates can also turn on the posts using the same locking mechanism causing the bands and the cue button to turn in an upward position so as to practise a high bridge shot.

The following paragraphs will be used to show alternative examples of the design using the same strike and attach movement technique.

Alternatively one wide band with two looped ends held by the plates. Fastened centrally to the band a cue button or inpregnated markings.

Alternatively springs held by the plates and attached to the cue button.

Alternatively a flat disc shaped target the size of a cue ball made in the same fashion as a childs magic drawing board held by the band on springs and in turn held by the plates.

Alternatively just one bracket fixed centrally to one end of the board. Attached to the bracket with a vertical movement will be a tubular shaped barrel fashioned like a telescope, spring loaded. The outer tube will be fixed to the bracket, the inner tube will hold the target which will be facing down the board parallel to the boards surface.

A specific eπibodiment of the invention will now be described by way of an example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:-

Figure 1 shows the oblong shaped boards with the two posts fixed in an upright position.

Figure 2 shows a close up view of the slits in the posts and the rubberised band stretched and held in position by the plates and the cue button fixed centrally onto the bands.

Figure 3 shows a side view of the concave cue button.

Referring to the drawing there is a flat oblong board in Fig 1 shown as 3 (the sizes given are approximate to show a possible scale) dimensions or 730 mm long by 430 mm wide. The board will be a substitute for a snooker table surface where one will be using one end of the surface of the board to place ones bridge hand and practise from. At the other end on the surface of the board at opposite corners, fixed in an upright position are two posts 4. In the center of the posts is an elongated slit 6 running almost from top to bottom and in line with each other Fig 2. A measured length of looped rubberized band 7 will be stretched between the posts Fig 2, both looped ends will pass through the slits Fig 2 from the inner most edge to the outer and will be held in position by two plates 8. The slits in the post will allow the band and the plates to move up and down the posts in a vertical line. The plates will have a special feature to lock them to the posts at any given height (e.g.- punched indentations on both the plates and the posts that will allow the locking male and female process to take place). (NOT SHOWN). The band will hold in place under its own tension. The two bands should be approximnately 5 mm apart 9. In the center of the bands will be fixed a cue button 10 this cue button will be used to practise ones cue action and it replaces the use of the white cue ball.

The cue button Fig 3 is slightly larger than a cue tip and is concave on the side facing away from the bands 7.

The concave side of the cue button will allow the cue tip to hold fast to the cue button when struck by the cue. It would be clearly seen if the cue button has been struck dead center or to one side. The plates 8 can also turn on the posts 6 using the same locking mechanism causing the bands 7 to turn in an upward position so as to practise a high bridge shot.

The following paragraphs will be used to show alternative examples of design using the same strike and attach movement technique.

Alternatively instead of using a looped rubberized band with a cue button attached top and bottom, one could use just one wide band approximately 2 mm thick 20 mm wide with two looped ends held by the plates. In the center of the band one could attach the cue button or some sort of impregnated marking to strike at.

Alternatively in place of the band one could use springs to hold the cue button.

Alternatively instead of using the cue button one could use a flat disc the size of a cue ball this could be made of plastic or any other material strong enough to take the impact of a cue tip. The striking side could be fashioned in the same manner as a childs magic drawing board. (Whereby pressure is applied to the surface with a blunt pointed instrument causing the inner surfaces to stick together by a form of wax carbon surfaces showing a clear mark, a slide means is fashioned between the two surfaces to bring it back to its original clear state.

Alternatively fixed centrally to one end in an upright state a bracket. Fixed to the bracket would be the practise target. The target would consist of two tubular shaped barrels one inside the other with a tolerance fit. The outer tube will have one end blanked off. This end will be fixed to the bracket with a vertical movement at fixed different heights. The tube should be facing down the length of the board parallel to the boards surface. The inner tube will have both ends blanked off. A spring of a measured length should be fitted in and behind the inner tube, so that when the inner tube is forced down the outer tube and the pressure is released the springs tension will return the inner tube to its original position.

The outer tube will have a small slit beginning at the blanked end and running the length of the tube and stopping at a measured distance. The inner tube when in place will be fitted with a small screw which will protrude through the slit in the outer tube. This mechanism will serve two purposes. It will release the air behind the inner tube when it is forced back down the outer tube and will also stop the inner tube from separating itself from the outer tube when the spring tension forces it back to its original position. A cue button or target can now be fitted to the end of the inner tube. It is this end that will be used to practise. When the cue tip strikes the button the inner tube moves in a backward motion down the outer tube, when the cue comes to rest the springs own tension will hold the cue button on the tip of the cue showing clearly whether or not the cue button has been struck centrally or to one side.

Also to help one stand correctly in front of the target and to sight in a straight line one could place a marker at a given distance behind the target. Attached to the end of the board or free standing.