Patent Publication Number: US-2013252750-A1

Title: Billiards cue attachment

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/613,370, filed Mar. 20, 2012. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention generally relates to recreational accessories, and particularly to an attachment for a billiards cue. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     The game of billiards is a sport played internationally in various forms. Arguably, the most popular billiard games are carom billiards, American-style pool, British-style pool, and snooker. Each of these games employs a cue ball. The cue balls are fabricated from plastic material that is resistant to cracking and chipping. The cue balls have a range of diametric sizes, including 52.5 mm (snooker), 57 mm (American-style), 56 mm (British-style), and 61.5 mm (carom). The cue ball is even smaller (51 mm and 28.5 mm) for children&#39;s billiards. Billiard sticks (cues) are generally selected according to comfort. The minimum length for a cue is approximately 40″. There is no official maximum length. The maximum weight of the cue is approximately 25 oz. There is no official minimum weight. The width of the cue tip can range from 9 mm to 14 mm. Shaft sizes (diameter) basically range from 12 to 14 mm. 
     When playing billiards, the butt end of the cue is gripped with the thumb and fingers of the dominant hand (right or left). The other hand loosely grasps the shaft of the cue stick, forming a bridge for the shaft. Unfortunately, because of physical limitations or impairments, many people can use only one hand to grasp the cue, thereby making the game difficult, if not impossible to play. In addition, when the cue ball is distant from the player&#39;s position, it is often necessary to use a bridge stick having a bridge with a plurality of notches that can be positioned near the cue ball in order to guide or aim the cue stick, particularly for short players who cannot reach very far across the pool table. This usually requires using one hand to manipulate the cue stick while the other keeps the bridge stable on the pool table, which may be difficult for children or handicapped players. The billiard art would certainly welcome an attachment that would allow the sport to be enjoyed by people now excluded because of the above noted physical limitations. Thus, a billiards cue attachment solving the aforementioned problems is desired. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The billiards cue attachment of the present invention comprises a cue ball having an opening with a threaded stud therein for receiving the tip end of a cue. The tip end of the cue is provided with a threaded passageway for receiving the threaded stud whereby the cue may be removably attached to the cue ball. This arrangement eliminates the need to grasp the shaft of the cue with the bridge hand. Only one hand need be employed to grasp the butt of the cue for impacting an object ball. 
     Accordingly, the invention presents an attachment to a cue that permits use by persons having physical limitations that prohibit the use of both hands when participating in a billiards game, or who are too short to reach across the table and would otherwise require the use of a bridge stick to set a bridge close to the cue ball position. The invention provides for improved elements thereof in an arrangement for the purposes described that are inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing their intended purposes. 
     These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an environmental, perspective view of a billiards cue attachment according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a billiards cue attachment according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a partial, exploded, perspective view of the billiards cue attachment of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a partial view of a conventional cue stick with the cue tip removed according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a kit containing an assortment of cue balls. 
     
    
    
     Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , the billiards cue attachment  10  includes a conventional cue  12  having a butt end  14  and a tip end  16 . The tip end of the cue includes a threaded passageway  16   a  in the tip end for receiving a cue tip (not shown) therein. The cue  12  is fabricated to fall within the weight, length and size parameters discussed above. 
     A specially designed cue ball  20  is provided for use with the above-described cue. The cue ball  20  is fabricated from plastic and has a blind bore  20   a  for receiving the tip end  16  of the cue  12 . A threaded stud  22  is disposed in the bore  20   a  for receiving the threaded passageway  16   a  of the cue thereon. This arrangement permits the cue ball  20  to be removably attached to the cue when desired. The cue ball  20  can be fabricated in any of the sizes discussed above based on the type of billiard game to be played. Using the attached cue ball permits a player P to omit the use of the bridging hand (if desired) or a bridge stick when playing a game of billiards in that the cue is thrust with one hand to slide the attached cue ball  20  across the table to impact an object ball B. Alternatively, the billiards cue attachment  10  may be used by holding the butt end  14  of the cue  12  with one hand and forming a bridge to guide the cue  12  with the other hand, but setting the bridge much closer to the butt end  14  of the cue  12  than the tip end  16  and farther from the cue ball position than a bridge stick would be placed, since it is no longer necessary to use the second hand to hold a bridge stick. The cue stick may be reconverted for its original use when desired simply by removing the cue ball and replacing the cue tip. 
     As best seen in  FIG. 5 , a kit  30  containing an array of cue balls  20  of the same or various diametric sizes will be made available for billiards aficionados. 
     It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.