Abstract:
A telescopic pool stick holder includes upper and lower blocks which may be disassembled for cleaning and maintenance purposes. A telescopic member is arranged between the blocks such that either block or the telescopic member may be easily replaced. Each end of the telescopic member is detachable from a respective block and replaceable.

Description:
[0001]    There are no related patent applications. 
         [0002]    The present application did not receive any federal research and development funding. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]    The present invention generally relates to an accessory item for securing a pool stick or billiard cue. More specifically, the invention is a telescopic stick or cue holder for detachably securing the stick or cue to a stationary item such as a table or chair. The device includes an upper block having at least one pair of biased arms on one side for receiving a tip end of the pool or billiard stick. An adjustable position clamp is attached to an opposite side of the upper block for allowing the device to be coupled to the stationary item and oriented at an angle relative to the stationary item such that the stick may be oriented in a desired manner causing the stick to be easily recognizable across a crowded room. A telescopic coupler attaches at one end to a lower end of the upper block to couple it to a lower block. The lower block includes at least one indentation for accepting a back end of stick. In this manner, the tip end of the stick is forced between the biased arms while the back end of the stick rests within the indentation. In another embodiment, additional pairs of biased arms are provided on the upper block and an equal number of complementary indentations are provided on the lower block for securing other sticks. 
         [0004]    Pool or and billiard games are played with sticks or cues typically having a tip end that includes a tip. A player takes a turn by holding a stick in a desire manner such that the tip end is oriented nearer a cue ball than the back end of the stick. The player then aims the cue ball at another ball and attempts to propel the cue ball into the other ball to cause it to be deposited into an opening. This is commonly referred to as taking a “shot.” 
         [0005]    In between shots or games, a player sometimes sets the stick aside. The player may lean the stick against a wall by first placing the back end of the stick on the floor and thereafter leaning the tip end of the stick against the wall. Alternatively, the tip end of the stick may be rested against a chair or other stationary object or rested in a corner of the room where the game of pool is being played. 
         [0006]    Leaning or resting the tip of the stick against a wall or other stationary object may cause damage to the tip. Moreover, leaning the stick may cause the stick to become crooked. Using a crooked stick causes shots to be missed and detracts from the playing of the game. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]    The present invention is an expandable pool stick holder that prevents a tip on the pool stick from being damaged. Moreover, the instant invention advantageously prevents the stick from becoming crooked. 
         [0008]    In one embodiment, a telescopic stick holder comprises an upper block having stick securing means that preferably comprises a pair of biased arms extending from one side thereof. The biased arms are arranged a distance apart from one another to accommodate a tip end of a pool stick. Each biased arm includes a base end, a free end, and a curved region. The distance between the free ends of the biased arms is shorter than the distance between the base ends. 
         [0009]    The telescopic stick holder comprises a lower block having an upper surface or face. The upper surface includes at least one indentation for receiving a back end of the stick for playing pool or billiards. It should be noted that the upper surface area of the lower block may be expanded to include multiple indentations for accommodating bases from a plurality of pool sticks. 
         [0010]    A telescopic member detachably fastens between the upper block and the lower block. The telescopic member includes a plurality of spring biased fasteners that couple each end of the telescopic member to one of either the upper block or the lower block. 
         [0011]    A fastening device is provided on one side of the upper block for coupling the expandable pool stick holder to a stationary object such as a lip or ledge of a pool or billiard table. The fastening device is-preferably a screw actuated clamp that includes an angle adjustment means for orienting the pool stick holder relative to the stationary object at an angle. That is, the stick may be tilted in a particular angle that is readily apparent from across the room. Alternatively, the pool stick holder may be fastened to a side or arm of a chair. 
         [0012]    It is a further object of the invention to provide a pool stick holder that will allow a player to take special care of unique individualized pools sticks by allowing the sticks to be placed in an individualized pool stick holder. 
         [0013]    It is a further object of the invention to provide a pool stick holder having a clamp that includes an angle orientating device that may hold a pool stick at a desired angle relative to the object to which the pool stick holder is attached. 
         [0014]    It is a further object of the invention to provide a pool stick holder that informs others that the stick is being used by another while ensuring a more enjoyable pool or billiards game. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the pool stick holder securing a pool stick to a lip of a pool table. 
           [0016]      FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of the pool stick holder in a collapsed state.  FIG. 2B  is a front view of the pool stick holder taken from a side.  FIG. 2C  is a cross section view of the pool stick holder in a collapsed state and taken from line F-F of  FIG. 2B . 
           [0017]      FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of the pool stick holder in an expanded state.  FIG. 3B  is a front view of the pool stick holder shown in  FIG. 3A .  FIG. 3C  is a side view of the pool stick holder.  FIG. 3D  is a cross section view of the pool stick holder. 
           [0018]      FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of an upper block of the pool stick holder.  FIG. 4B  is a bottom view of the upper block taken from a rear side.  FIG. 4C  is a back view of the upper block in a disassembled state.  FIG. 4D  is an overhead view of the top block with the insert removed.  FIG. 4E  is an overhead view of the insert of the top block.  FIG. 4F  is a front view of the upper block.  FIG. 4G  is a back view of the upper block.  FIG. 4H  is a side view of the upper block.  FIG. 4I  is an overhead view of the upper block.  FIG. 4J  is a bottom view of the upper block.  FIG. 4K  is a cross section view of the upper block taken from line A-A of  FIG. 4H .  FIG. 4L  is a cross section view of the upper block taken from line C-C of  FIG. 4H . 
           [0019]      FIG. 5A  is a perspective view of the bottom block in a disassembled state such that the bottom insert is removed.  FIG. 5B  is a top view of the bottom block with the bottom insert removed.  FIG. 5C  is an overhead view of the bottom insert.  FIG. 5D  is a front view of the bottom block.  FIG. 5E  is a back view of the bottom block.  FIG. 5F  is a side view of the bottom block.  FIG. 5G  is a cross section view taken from line B-B of  FIG. 5F .  FIG. 5H  is a cross section view taken from line D-D of  FIG. 5F .  FIG. 5I  is a bottom view of the bottom block.  FIG. 5J  is an overhead view of the bottom block in an assembled state. 
           [0020]      FIG. 6A  is side view of the upper end of the telescoping member.  FIG. 6B  is a side view of the lower end of the telescoping member.  FIG. 6C  is an overhead view of the upper end of the telescoping member.  FIG. 6D  is perspective view of the upper end of the telescoping member.  FIG. 6E  is a bottom view of the lower end of the telescoping member. 
           [0021]      FIG. 7A  is a side view of a preferred fastening device for fastening the pool stick holder to a stationary object.  FIG. 7B  is a front view of the clamp and showing a clip attachment. An extended member is fastened or formed as part of the upper block and includes a fastening flange having indentations for rotating the fastening device and securing it at an angle to the pool stick holder.  FIG. 7C  is a perspective view of the fastening device and clip.  FIG. 7D  is a cross section view of the clip and showing its adjustable relationship to the upper block. 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view showing another embodiment of pool stick holder securing a plurality of pool sticks to a chair. 
           [0023]      FIG. 9A  is a first holder attached to the upper block for securing the pool stick.  FIG. 9B  is a second holder attached to the upper block for securing the pool stick.  FIG. 9C  is a third holder attached to the upper block for securing the pool stick. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0024]    The embodiments of the invention and the various features and advantageous details thereof are more fully explained with reference to the non-limiting embodiments and examples that are described and/or illustrated in the accompanying drawings and set forth in the following description. It should be noted that the features illustrated in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, and the features of one embodiment may be employed with the other embodiments as the skilled artisan recognizes, even if not explicitly stated herein. Descriptions of well-known components and techniques may be omitted to avoid obscuring the invention. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the invention may be practiced and to further enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. Accordingly, the examples and embodiments set forth herein should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention, which is defined by the appended claims. Moreover, it is noted that like reference numerals represent similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
         [0025]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing the telescoping stick holder  1  attached to a lip of pool table  100  and holding stick  76  in a vertical orientation. The stick holder includes an upper block  3  having a front face and a rear face. A stick securing means or holder  5  is provided on the front face  7  of the upper block  3 , as more clearly shown in  FIG. 2A . The various holders  5  are shown in  FIGS. 9A-9C . A clamping mechanism  61  is arranged on a back face  8  of the upper block  5 , as more clearly shown in  FIG. 3C . The clamping mechanism  61  is more clearly shown in  FIG. 7A and 7C  and affixes the upper block  3  to a fixed object such as the pool table  100  of  FIG. 1  or the chair  101  of  FIG. 8 . A telescoping member  51  extends from a bottom face of upper block  3  and downward to a back half of an upper face of lower block  33 . The upper face of the lower block  33  includes an indentation  35  as more clearly shown in  FIG. 2A . In this manner, the back end  79  of the pool stick  76  rests against this indentation  35 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the front end  77  of pool stick  76  is arranged at a higher elevation than back end  79 . 
         [0026]    Turning now to  FIGS. 2A-2C , the stick holder  1  is shown in a collapsed state. In a collapsed state, the upper block  3  is stacked onto the lower block  33  in a stepwise manner as shown in  FIG. 2A . As clearly recognized by the skilled artisan, the length between the front face and the back face of the upper block  3  is shorter than the length between the front face and the back face of the lower block  33 . In this manner, the surface area of a side defined between the front face and the back face of the lower block is greater than that of the upper block. Each block includes a cavity, denoted as  4  and  34  in  FIG. 2C . Respective ends  25 ,  55  of telescoping member  51  are retained within the respective cavities. The entire telescoping member  51  is stored within these cavities  4 ,  34  when the stick holder  1  is in a collapsed state such that individual segments in the telescoping member are nested within one another as shown. Openings  19 A,  19 B open into cavities  4 ,  34  and include respective lips that form a square cavity arranged at respective ends of cavities  4 ,  34 . 
         [0027]    The stick holder  1  is shown in an expanded state in  FIGS. 3A-3D . The clamping mechanism  60  includes an upper jaw interior surface area  77 A and a lower jaw interior surface area  77 B that are coupled together view a threaded stud  68  that extends from the upper jaw  63 . A wing nut  67  is threaded onto the threaded stud  68  to cause the distance between the interior surface areas of the jaws  77 A,  77 B to vary as desired. Preferably, each jaw includes an end region distal from the upper block that is flattened as shown in  FIG. 3C . A region of each jaw nearer the upper block includes a curved portion as shown. In this manner, the clamping mechanism may be secured to a variety of fixed objects having different shapes. After a fixed surface is arranged between the interior surface area of the jaws  77 A,  77 B, the wing nut  67  is tightened to secure the stick holder  1  to the fixed surface. 
         [0028]      FIGS. 4A-4L  show the various views of the upper block  3  and its respective parts in assembled and disassembled states. As shown in  FIG. 4B , the upper block  3  includes a block insert  15  that comprises a circular cutout region that contributes to defining circular opening  19 A. A lip  11  is provided along this opening  19  to retain an upper end  25  of the telescoping member  51  within cavity  4  to form a square cavity into which opening  19 A opens. A cavity that is substantially a complementary shape of block insert  15  less cavity  4  is provided in the upper block  3  such that when the block insert  15  is deposited therein, a clean exterior shape is created. A nameplate or other identifying indicia may be provided on an exterior surface of either the upper or lower blocks. Moreover, it should be noted that the exterior shape of either the upper block  3  or the lower block  33  may be formed in various geometric shapes other than the square or rectangular shape shown in the drawings. 
         [0029]    The block insert  15  is fastened within the upper block by a pair of fasteners such as screws  23  and includes a clip insert  17 . The fasteners extend through respective openings  13 A in the block insert  15  and into complementary threaded openings  13 B in the block  3  to fasten the block insert  15  into the block  3 . The clip insert  17  extends from the insert  15  and includes a plurality of indentations  18  arranged on its face as shown. The indentations  18  accommodate a spherical knob  74  that is shown in  FIG. 7C  to allow the clamping mechanism  60  to be rotated relative to upper block  3 . A ledge  11 , clearly shown in  FIG. 4C  and represented as broken lines in  FIGS. 4D and 4E , is provided along opening  19  to secure the upper end  25  within the upper block  3  when the block insert  15  is fixed within the block  3 . An upper face of the block insert  15  is arranged against upper wall  21  of upper block  3 . As shown by  FIG. 4J , when fully assembled, the upper block  3  includes opening  19  which is preferably circular in shape. 
         [0030]      FIGS. 5A-5J  show various views of the lower block  33  in disassembled and assembled states. As shown in  FIG. 5A , the lower block  33  includes an insert includes a block insert  45  that comprises a circular cutout region that contributes to defining a second circular opening  19 B in the lower block  33 . A lip  41  is provided along this opening  19 B to retain a lower end  55  of the telescoping member  51  within cavity  34 . A cavity  44  that is substantially a complementary shape of block insert  45  less cavity  34  is provided in the lower block  33  such that when the block insert  45  is deposited therein, a clean exterior shape is created in the lower block  33 . 
         [0031]    The block insert  45  is fastened within the lower block by a pair of fasteners such as screws  23 . The fasteners extend through respective openings  13 A in the block insert  45  and into complementary threaded openings  13 B in the lower block  33  to fasten the block insert  45  into the block  33 . The ledge  41 , shown in  FIG. 5A  and represented as broken lines in  FIGS. 5B and 5C , is provided along lower opening  19 B to secure the lower end  55  within the lower block  33  when the block insert  45  is fixed within the block  33 . An upper face of the block insert  45  is arranged against upper wall  43  of lower block  33 . The broken lines in  FIG. 5D  represent the indentation  35  into which the base of the stick is deposited. As shown by  FIG. 5J , when fully assembled, the lower block  33  includes opening  19 B which is preferably circular in shape. One of the segments that form the telescoping member  51  passes through the circular opening. A cavity formed by the lip  41  is preferably in a square shape as represented by the broken lines in  FIG. 5J . In the preferred embodiment, this square cavity is substantially the same shape as the lower end  55  of the telescoping member such that it is seated within the square cavity when the telescoping member is extended. 
         [0032]      FIGS. 6A ,  6 C and  6 D represent the upper end  25  of the telescoping member  51 ; whilst  FIGS. 6B and 6E  represent the lower end  55  of the telescoping member  51 . The upper end  25  and the lower end  55  each include spring tensioned fasteners  27  which aid in preventing the ends from spinning within their respective cavity  4 ,  34 . The spring tensioned fasteners  27  are forced into their respective end when the telescoping member is extended. When retracted, the spring tensioned fasteners  27  extend from the sides of their respective end. Each end  25 ,  55  is fastened to the telescoping member  51  via a fastener such as screw  23 . 
         [0033]      FIGS. 7A-7D  depict the clamping mechanism  60  which includes a pair of jaws  63 ,  65  that are coupled together via a threaded stud  67  and wing nut  68 . Each jaw  63 ,  65  includes an inner surface  77 A and  77 B that is shaped as mentioned above. 
         [0034]    An adjustment means  69  includes a catch  73  and a solid semi-spherical button  74 . A thumb or finger actuated release  70  is included on the adjustment means  69 . When depressed, the release  70  causes the catch  73  to be retracted. The catch  73  is extended when the release is unconfined. In this manner, the clip insert  17  is slid into the adjustment means  69  through an open end and into the keyhole opening  90 . When the button  74  mates with a particular detent  18 , it is seated therein by the catch  73 . The release  70  must be depressed to withdraw the clip insert  17  from within the keyhole opening  90 .  FIG. 7D  shows the clip insert  17  arranged within the adjustment means  69 . This operates in a similar fashion to some cellular telephone holsters that couples the phone to the belt or waistband of a user. 
         [0035]      FIG. 8  shows an additional embodiment of the invention wherein a plurality of sticks are arranged and secured with a telescoping stick holder. In this embodiment, the clamping mechanism couples the upper block to a back of a chair  101 . The upper block includes a plurality of stick securing means. A telescoping member is arranged between the upper and lower blocks as discussed above. The lower block is equipped with a plurality of indentations in which the base or butt end of the sticks rest. 
         [0036]      FIGS. 9A-9C  show the various types of stick securing means that may be attached to the upper block for retaining the stick. In a first instance as shown in  FIG. 9A , the stick securing means or holder  5  comprises two biased arms that each includes an end that opens away from the opposite end on the opposite arm. A left arm is formed in substantially an S-shape as shown. A right arm is formed in substantially a backwards S-shape as shown. Each arm includes two curves. In  FIG. 9B , a hoop of material  80  is provided. In this instance, an end of the pool stick is passed through the hoop and the back end of the stick rests within an indentation on the lower block. In  FIG. 9C , the stick securing means includes a hinge  83  arranged between a fixed curved member  81  and a rotating curved member  82  such that the stick securing means may be opened and the stick deposited therein and thereafter closed. The stick may be removed from the stick securing means by simply opening the device and retrieving the stick. 
         [0037]    While the invention has been described with respect to preferred embodiments, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in limiting sense. From the above disclosure of the general principles of the present invention and the preceding detailed description, those skilled in the art will readily comprehend the various modifications to which the present invention is susceptible. Therefore, the scope of the invention should be limited only by the following claims and equivalents thereof.