Four dimensional billiards

Abstract

A playing surface that introduces “movement” or “motion” as a fourth dimension to the traditional game of billiards by altering the natural inertia of the billiard balls is disclosed. In one embodiment of the playing surface, “motion” is introduced through turning or rotating of a portion of the playing surface of the billiards table in the same plane as the playing surface. By affecting introducing a new element that would affect the inertia of the balls, players would then be required to not only make judgments about the distance, angle and force that the cue ball should strike the target ball, but must also consider how those factors may be effective by the introduction of an element that may alter the typical movement of the balls. Accordingly, players will be faced with moving targets, moving obstacles and the possible redirection and/or change in speed of the target balls as they attempt to hit the balls into the pockets of the table.

1 . A playing surface comprising:
 a stationary surface; and   a movable surface.   
   
   
       2 . The playing surface in  claim 1 , wherein the movable surface is capable of rotating. 
   
   
       3 . The playing surface in  claim 2 , wherein the rotation of the movable surface is circular. 
   
   
       4 . The playing surface in  claim 2 , wherein the rotation of the movable surface is elliptical. 
   
   
       5 . The playing surface of  claim 1 , wherein the playing surface is generally rectangular in shape. 
   
   
       6 . The playing surface of  claim 1 , wherein the playing surface is generally circular in shape. 
   
   
       7 . The playing surface of  claim 1 , wherein the movable surface is generally rectangular in shape. 
   
   
       8 . The playing surface of  claim 1 , wherein the movable surface is generally circular in shape. 
   
   
       9 . The playing surface of  claim 1 , wherein the stationary surface has at least one opening and the at least one movable surface is designed to fit within the at least one opening of the stationary surface. 
   
   
       10 . The playing surface of  claim 9 , wherein the stationary surface has a stationary top face and the movable surface has a movable top face, the stationary top face of the stationary surface and the movable top face of the movable surface lie approximately in the same horizontal plane. 
   
   
       11 . The playing surface in  claim 1 , wherein the stationary surface has a stationary top face and the movable surface has a movable top face, wherein the movable top face is positioned above the stationary top face. 
   
   
       12 . The playing surface in  claim 1 , wherein the stationary surface has a stationary top face and the movable surface has a movable top face, wherein the movable top face is positioned below the stationary top face. 
   
   
       13 . The playing surface in  claim 1 , wherein the movable surface operates at a low velocity. 
   
   
       14 . The playing surface in  claim 1 , wherein the movable surface operates at a high velocity. 
   
   
       15 . The playing surface of  claim 1 , wherein the playing surface is located on a billiard table. 
   
   
       16 . A playing surface comprising a means for affecting the movement of movable objects on the playing surface, wherein the affecting means has an affecting inertia. 
   
   
       17 . A playing surface comprising a means for affecting the movement of movable objects on the playing surface, wherein the affecting means is an electromagnetic force. 
   
   
       18 . A playing surface comprising a means for affecting the movement of movable objects on the playing surface, where the affecting means is an electrostatic force. 
   
   
       19 . A playing surface in  claims 16 ,  17  or  18 , wherein the affecting means alters the inertia of a moving object on the playing surface. 
   
   
       20 . A method for providing the movement of moveable objects on a playing surface, the method comprising moving at least a portion of a playing surface. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , further including rotating the moving portion of the playing surface is a circular motion. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 20 , further including rotating the moving portion of the playing surface is an elliptical motion. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 20 , further including continuously moving the portion of the playing surface. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 20 , further including intermittently moving the portion of the playing surface. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 20 , further including controlling the motion of the moving portion of the playing surface through a controller. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the controller is capable of varying the speed of the moving portion of the playing table. 
   
   
       27 . A method for affecting the movement of a movable object on a playing surface, the method comprising affecting the inertia of the movable object by moving a portion of the playing surface.