Patent Publication Number: US-2011070959-A1

Title: Clip/fastener with wheel, ball bearing, or roller device or apparatus: Junior shark guiding wheel

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a continuing application relative to provisional patent application 61/191,962 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     “Not Applicable” 
     THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT  
     “Not Applicable” 
     INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC 
     “Not Applicable” 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     Description of Related Art including information disclosed under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98. 
     As with the invention described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,053,153, “this invention pertains to a training aid device for use in increasing a player&#39;s ability in the game of billiards, which name in all of the following includes the game of pocket billiards or pocket pool regardless of the size of the table used in the game. The object of a billiards game is to strike one ball, called the cue ball, with the end of a shaft called a cue stick in such a manner and direction that said cue ball will roll to another ball called the object ball, and hit the object ball in such a location and a manner that said object ball will travel a specific path, as to a pocket for scoring.” In the game, it is often desirable for the cue stick stroke to occur parallel to the playing surface. A right-handed player will hold or grip the shaft of the cue stick in his or her right hand which provides the thrusting motion to the stroke. For a right-handed player, the left hand will function as a bridging hand to establish the height of the shaft relative to the playing surface and to provide control in aiming the stroke. For left-handed players, the left hand grips and thrusts the shaft of the cue stick and the right hand is the bridging hand. 
     Unlike the invention described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,053,153, this invention, once fastened to the cue stick, can be largely forgotten by the user, who proceeds to enjoy the game with only a small change to the overall experience and the invention does not need to placed onto the table and the player can use virtually any variation of bridging holds that are comfortable given their skill dexterity and inclination. Also, unlike the invention described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,053,153, and unlike any of the other prior art, this invention allows the user relatively greater freedom during its use and the same design can be used for both right and left-handed shots/strokes. Further, unlike the invention described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,053,153, and unlike any of the other prior art, this invention can be used by those who may have limited dexterity in their bridging hand or, in more severe cases, may not have the ability to the use their bridging hand, whether due to illness, injury, amputation or for some other reason. 
     This invention requires relatively little effort on the part of the user who needs to make almost no conscious adjustment to his or her game in order to benefit from the invention (the only requirement is to keep the wheel in contact with the playing surface during the cue stick stroke). In this way, this invention provides benefits similar to bicycle training wheels (see, for one example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,541,952) which are predominantly used by children “to quickly, safely and unconsciously learn to balance . . . while being protected against toppling laterally in either direction.” The “guiding wheel” invention described in this current application is designed to be used by children or similarly inexperienced players who want a quick, safe and unconscious way to learn to balance the cue stick on their bridging hand while protecting the playing surface from a cue stick that might otherwise be angled too steeply down and might thereby scratch, rip, or tear the felt or similar fabric that covers the playing surface. The prior art did not provide similar protection because the prior art was either stationary and/or was designed such that the tip of the shaft could, at some point in the stroke, be angled steeply downward and risk digging into the fabric covering the playing surface. This invention, attached throughout the stroke, very near to the tip of the cue stick, is designed to keep the tip of the shaft running parallel to the playing surface and thereby substantially reduces the risk of an accidental steep downward angle in the stroke. 
     The prior art in billiards training aids has generally been designed for use by players wishing to refine their skills or otherwise advance their performance toward the goal of becoming expert in the game. The current invention is designed with the novice in mind, who has possibly not ever before played billiards, and is not knowledgeable or experienced enough to properly utilize the more advanced training aids. The prior art in billiards training aids has often not attached the aids to the cue stick, and has therefore required the user to consciously focus on the training aid and may have interfered with the user&#39;s sense of freedom and enjoyment. The prior art in billiards has also included various devices that are referred to as bridges, some of which have even had wheels. Those devices with wheels in the prior art were designed to fit the cue shaft more loosely, had two broadly set wheels, a triangular body, with a full axle and rubber tired wheels. As such, the prior art wheeled bridge did not prevent a steep downward angle in the stroke. The device was expensive to manufacturer and too wide for use in any shot where neighboring balls were close to the stroke path. None of these prior art devices have been small enough to permit use unless there was adequate clearance on either side of the stroke path because the prior art devices were wider than the cue stick. The current invention can be used in all but the most tightly restricted billiards shots (although it is not designed specifically for trick shots or those requiring what some billiards experts refer to as “English”). 
     The “guiding wheel invention” is similar in width to the cue stick itself and therefore this device will not stick out at the sides of the cue stick shaft and inadvertently strike object balls that are near to the path of the cue stick during its stroke. 
     In its preferred embodiment, the “guiding wheel” invention is firmly attached to the cue stick and the height of the wheel is such that the tip of the cue stick to which it is attached will, when used correctly, strike the cue ball very near the vertical center of the cue ball. The player using the “guiding wheel” invention, may focus his or her effort in controlling the lateral aim and strength of the cue stick stroke, with less worry about vertical variation and with less worry about the risk such vertical variation could pose to the fabric covering the playing surface (often called the “felt” regardless of what material is actually used). 
     Unlike any of the prior art, this invention is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and easily transportable, since it is smaller than any of the prior art of which the applicant is aware. In its preferred embodiment, this invention is relatively easy to manufacture because the rolling component can be made from the same strong lightweight material that is used to make the fastener component and the two can be joined by “snapping” the rolling component onto the fastener component while the fastener component is squeezed, allowing enough space for the rolling component to be inserted between two arms extending at the bottom of the fastener component so that small posts on each arm of the fastener component are inserted into the center of the hub of the rolling component in order to act as an axle for smooth rolling of the roller component or “wheel.” In its preferred embodiment, the wheel rolls both forward and backward with minimal resistance and the fastener component is attached to the tip of the cue stick by positioning the slotted or ring-shaped opening of the fastener component over the tip of the cue stick and either sliding or snapping the fastener component onto the tip of the cue stick and then, generally with some rotation around the shaft immediately behind the tip, the “guiding wheel” invention is slid into a position near the point where the ferrule and the main shaft of the cue stick join. The optimal position will vary slightly by player and from cue stick to cue stick but is generally within 1 to 2 inches (or 2 to 5 cm.) of the tip of the cue stick. This is a substantial improvement over the prior art and, while simple in construction and use, the device described in this invention, the “guiding wheel,” was not obvious prior to its invention. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a clip or other fastener and an integrated wheel, ball bearing, or roller component (or in another embodiment the roller component could be replaced with a smooth gliding “foot” or “ski” like component) that, in order to be used, is attached onto a cue stick or similar companion item. The preferred embodiment of the invention is to attach to a pool or billiards cue stick in conjunction with practice or play in pool or billiards. The preferred embodiment of the invention is similar to the form and structure of the “Junior Shark Guiding Wheel” developed by Wylie Group LLC and viewable in a product demonstration video on the internet on www.juniorshark.com. 
     Any discussion of the prior art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such prior art is widely known or forms part of common general knowledge in the field. 
     This device may be used as a training apparatus in the sports/games of billiards or pocket pool to help avoid damage to the felt covering of a pool/billiards table. This device will also aid players who are wheel chair confined or people with physical limitations to enjoy these games when they might not otherwise be able to. To our knowledge, there is not another item like this product in the prior art. This has been confirmed through the last year of broad exposure throughout the pool/billiards industry as this invention has been named a “Best New Product of 2009” by Billiards.com. This invention works with no electricity or batteries. It is a variation of a wheel and axle machine with special adaptations not previously found in the prior art. 
     In its preferred embodiment, this invention, when fastened onto a cue stick reduces the risk of damage to the felt covering of the pool/billiards table by guiding the stroke parallel with the playing surface. This invention also assists novice, physically limited, or any less experienced players in developing their stroke with minimal effort once the invention is fastened to the cue stick. Other embodiments for this invention would be for other games or activities that have similar conditions. 
     This apparatus may allow the user to train or participate in an activity with confidence that they may avoid costly repairs to the felt covering of a pool/billiards table. This clip or fastener with attached wheel, ball bearing or roller may be used as a training device or for added enjoyment in the game of pool/billiards or other sports with similar conditions. The invention has no electricity, batteries or power to turn off or on. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
         FIG. 1  is an elevation view drawing of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a “three-quarter” view of the preferred embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a top view showing the slot opening in the fastener ring into which the shaft of the cue stick is inserted and held during use. 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the invention in its preferred embodiment, the “Junior Shark Guiding Wheel.” 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Reference will now be made to the exemplary embodiment illustrated in the drawings. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Alterations and further modifications of the inventive features illustrated herein, and additional applications of the principles of the inventions as illustrated herein, which would occur to one skilled in the relevant art and having possession of the disclosure, are to be considered within the scope of the invention. 
     The present invention advantageously provides a device that will help protect a pool/billiards table&#39;s fabric covering during play from damage that might occur from a poorly controlled stroke of a cue stick. This device can be clipped, slipped or pressed onto or fastened onto a cue stick to prevent damage to the felt covering of the pool/billiards table and/or to assist non-expert players in developing their basic cue stick stroke. Other embodiments for this would be for other games or activities that have analogous conditions or for people who have physical limitations that could be compensated with this invention. There will be no electrical power source need for this device. 
       FIG. 1  is an elevation view drawing of the  1  clip or fastener (Junior Shark Guiding Wheel) that will attach to a cue stick. In this drawing can be seen the ring which has an open slot on the top which flexes slightly when pressed onto the tip of the cue stick and also retains sufficient tension to grip tightly to the cue stick shaft near the tip, generally just below the ferrule. The fastener component contains two arms  3  between which the  2  wheel or roller component is inserted with a small clearance above and on the sides but can still spin with minimal resistance. This drawing shows how narrow the device can be, allowing it to be used with minimal disruption to nearby object balls that the player would not want to accidentally strike during play. 
       FIG. 2  is a “three-quarter” view of the preferred embodiment of the device with the same reference number relationships as are seen in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 4 . The  1  fastener component has a smooth inside diameter and, because it is small, it does not need to be tapered and therefore can be inserted over the tip of the cue stick through either side of the ring. The  2  wheel or roller component can be made of the same material as the  1  fastener component in order to reduce costs of manufacturing. In  FIG. 2 , the  3  integral arms of the  1  fastener component are visible in cross-section. 
     An alternative design could replace the  2  wheel or roller component with a smooth foot or ski-like component. 
       FIG. 3  is a top view showing the slot opening in the fastener ring into which the shaft of the cue stick is inserted and held during use. 
       FIG. 4  is a side view of the invention in its preferred embodiment, the “Junior Shark Guiding Wheel” showing that the  1  fastener component is very close in size to the  2  wheel or roller component and that the  3  integral arms of the  1  fastener component are able to hold the wheel in place without presenting a sharp contour that might itself pose a risk to the fabric covering the surface of the billiard table.