Patent ID: 6026720
Filing Date: 2000-02-22
Classification: A63D,B23B,B27C,B27M,Y10T

Abstract:
An apparatus for servicing a cue, of the type having a bed defining a generally horizontal planar surface and including a longitudinal guide way, a headstock mounted to the bed and including a rotation member, a support slidably mounted to the guide way and alignable with the headstock, a motor, and a coupler for coupling the motor to the rotation member, wherein the improvement comprises:a collet mounted to the rotation member, includinga collet body defining a passage therethrough including a generally conical surface having a larger diameter end and a smaller diameter end;at least two collet jaws, each collet jaw formed of a flexible, resilient material, slidably disposed within passage proximate to the conical surface and having a generally cylindrical inner surface and a generally conical collet jaw outer surface corresponding to at least a portion of the conical surface proximate to the larger end, so that as each collet jaw slides towards the smaller diameter end, an arcuate gap is defined between each collet jaw outer surface and a portion of the conical surface; andan adjuster mounted to the collet body for slidably moving the collet jaws towards the smaller diameter end, whereby the collet jaw inner surfaces are capable of bearing against a portion of a cue inserted through the passage and the collet jaws so that the gaps are reduced in size by flexure of the collet jaws towards the conical surface, thereby distributing as well as lowering any force acting on the cue by the collet jaws so that the possibility of damage to the cue is reduced.