Patent Publication Number: US-8523695-B2

Title: Pool cue and method of manufacturing thereof

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present disclosure relates generally to jointed pool cues that allow assembly and/or disassembly of one or more sections thereof so as to provide advantages in storage and transportability. In addition, the present disclosure pertains to methods used in constructing and assembling multi-piece pool cues and components thereof in a rapid, cost efficient, self-aligning and precise manner. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
     Referring now to the drawings,  FIG. 1  illustrates a prior art jointed, multi-piece pool cue  10  comprising a tapered shaft section  12  coupled by means of a connector  14  to a tapered butt section  16 . A pool cue  10  is mainly constructed of a wood such as a hard maple or other suitable hardwood, but may also be constructed of other materials that can be machined. Shaft section  12  has a circular cross section which is largest at a facing edge  18  of connector  14  and gradually decreases at an outermost end provided with a tip portion  20  having a cue tip  22 . The butt section  16  has a circular cross section which is smallest at a facing edge  24  of connector  14  and gradually increases to its largest diameter at an outermost end provided with a butt cap and bumper  26 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , therein is shown the butt section  16  which is typically defined by three main subcomponents, namely, a butt sleeve  28 , an underwrap portion  30  and a forearm portion  32 , having a circular cross section. The forearm portion  32  is subsequently connected to various smaller components of circular cross section depending on the complexity of the pool cue design. These smaller components may take the form of ornamental rings or sleeve arrangements as are well known to those skilled in pool cue manufacturing and design. The three main subcomponents  28 ,  30 ,  32  become a carrier for other components as they are assembled and collectively form the actual finished butt section  16 . Two of these main subcomponents, the underwrap portion  30  and the forearm portion  32 , require expensive labor operations performed thereon before they can become part of an assembly operation to create a rough built butt segment  16 . 
     More specifically (as depicted in  FIG. 3 ), operations on the underwrap portion  30  include turning outer diameter surfaces  34  with qualities and dimensions critical to running true in a CNC machine (e.g., straightness, rigidity, dimensional uniformity and integrity of material). Particularly, inner diameter holes  36  are drilled and subsequently need to be tapped in opposite ends; additionally, the opposite ends are machined to form tenons  38 ,  39  that receive the butt sleeve  28  and the forearm portion  32 , respectively. Moreover, cutting faces  40 ,  41  should be uniformly straight where the subassemblies will come together to ensure a high degree of trueness in the finished cue. Similar operations on the forearm portion  32  are performed and typically include turning or machining outer diameter surfaces  42 , drilling inner diameter bore  44  and hole  46 , which needs to be tapped, and cutting faces  48 ,  49  uniformly straight. The end of forearm portion  32  at face  49  may further need to be worked to receive a connecting device coupling the forearm portion  32  to the shaft section  12 . Once these intensive operations are complete, the underwrap portion  30  and the forearm portion  32  are assembled together using a threaded rod  50  as a reinforcing member, and applying epoxy glue to the tenon  38  insertable into bore  44  and the engaging faces  41 ,  48 . Epoxy glue is also applied to the tenon  39  and face  40  in assembling butt sleeve  28  to the underwrap portion  30 . 
     A problem arises with this method of subassembly in that any area that is not drilled straight or faced correctly causes the butt section assembly to become crooked or misaligned. Such problem then requires disassembly of the subcomponents  28 ,  30 ,  32  in an attempt to correct misalignment, such as by shimming the faces  40 ,  41 ,  48  which may still cause the cue to be crooked. The fact that the subassemblies are coated with epoxy glue further complicates the issue. With the subcomponents  28 ,  30 ,  32  joined together, any voids caused from lack of glue will also create a further problem of noise during play with the cue. Moreover, when the butt section subassembly is completed in its rough stage, additional inlay work is often added. Due to the nature of how the butt assembly is constructed and issues of non-concentricity with the probability of nature changes in humidity (moisture content that causes wood to become warped and deformed), there are added losses when the inlays cannot be correctly cut. To offset this additional problem, the subcomponents  28 ,  30 ,  32  must be formed separately where inlays are required adding further time and inefficiency to the cue-forming process. 
     Therefore, it should be appreciated that previous known cue-making practices have been unreasonably costly and time consuming with a high rework and scrap ratio, requiring expensive CNC equipment and the necessary labor to enable limited production of pool cues. 
     Accordingly, it is desirable to overcome the drawbacks of prior art pool cue manufacture, particularly in the butt section thereof, and provide a pool cue that can be constructed and assembled quickly, more efficiently and with a higher quality that previously known. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present disclosure relates to a pool cue including a hollow shaft arrangement having a first end and a second end, the shaft arrangement being formed with a bore extending throughout an entire length of the shaft arrangement between the first and second ends. A carrier for mounting the shaft arrangement thereon includes a central section disposed to be received in the bore. The central section has a first end disposed to be engaged against the first end of the shaft arrangement, and a second end provided with a threaded area disposed to extend beyond the second end of the shaft arrangement. The threaded area is connected to other pool cue structure disposed at the second end of the shaft arrangement. 
     The hollow shaft arrangement defines a butt section, and the first end of the carrier defines a butt cap. An inner surface of the bore of the shaft arrangement and an outer surface of the central section of the carrier have circular cross sections. The threaded area of the carrier includes a first threaded segment for receiving a joint collar, and a second threaded segment for receiving a shaft section. The first end of the carrier and the central section of the carrier are cylindrically-shaped with the first end of the carrier having an outer diameter that is enlarged relative to an outer diameter of the central section of the carrier. Likewise, the first threaded segment may have an outer threaded diameter that is larger than an outer threaded diameter of the second threaded segment. The first threaded segment has a length that may be longer than a length of the second threaded segment. The joint collar has an internally threaded bore for receiving the first threaded segment. The second end of the carrier includes an unthreaded tenon extending from the second threaded segment and received in the shaft section. The outer pool cue structure is defined by at least a joint collar and a shaft section. 
     The present disclosure also contemplates a method for making a pool cue including the steps of (a) supplying a hollow shaft arrangement having a first end, a second end opposite to the first end, and a bore extending throughout an entire length of the shaft arrangement between the first end and the second end; (b) providing a carrier including a central section having a first end and a second end opposite the first end formed with a threaded area thereon; (c) mounting the hollow shaft arrangement on the carrier such that the central section is received in the bore of the shaft arrangement with the first end of the carrier extending outside the shaft arrangement and abutting against the first end thereof, and the second end of the carrier formed with the threaded area extending beyond the second end of the shaft arrangement, and (d) connecting other pool cue structure to the threaded area of the carrier. This method of manufacturing is highly advantageous as the machining operations are significantly reduced and construction of the cue is simplified resulting in production and material cost advantages. Additionally, the method of manufacturing increases the overall quality of the finished pool cue by consistently ensuring enhanced straightness, rigidity, dimensional uniformity and integrity of material, for example, through the elimination of bored tenons in the butt section. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The best mode of carrying out the invention is described herein below with reference to the following drawing figures. 
         FIG. 1  is a fragmentary elevational view of a prior art pool cue; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of various components used in the making of a butt section in the prior art pool cue of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional representation of the partial assembly of certain components of the prior art pool cue shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the components used in making a pool cue according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 5  is a fragmentary sectional view of the assembly of the components shown in  FIG. 4 ; and 
         FIG. 6  is a fragmentary elevational view of an assembled pool cue according to the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 4-6 , thereshown is a construction of a pool cue  100  in accordance with the present disclosure. The pool cue  100  is generally comprised of a hollow shaft arrangement  102  (defining a butt section), a carrier  104 , a joint collar  106  and a shaft section  108 . In the examples shown, the hollow shaft arrangement  102  is preferably fabricated of, but not limited to, a wood material of circular cross section, and is illustrated as a single or one piece, elongated hollow tube or shaft  110  having a first open end  112  and a second open end  114 . It should be fully understood, however, that the hollow shaft arrangement  102  may also be embodied as multiple hollow tubes, shafts and collars including rings and sleeves having various lengths and different circular cross sections. The shaft  110  has a circular cross section that may vary along the length thereof, typically decreasing in an outer diameter surface  116  from the first open end  112  to the second open end  114 . A smooth bore  118  having a substantially constant circular cross section extends centrally throughout the entire length of shaft  110  as seen in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . 
     The carrier  104  is preferably constructed of, but not limited to, aluminum and includes a first end  120  defining a butt cap, an elongated substantially cylindrical central section  122 , and a second end  124  that serves as a connector to joint collar  106 , shaft section  108  or both. The first end  120  and the central section  122  are cylindrically-shaped with the outer diameter of the first end  120  being enlarged relative to the outer diameter of the central section  122 . The second end  124  is formed with a threaded area  126  and an unthreaded tenon  128 . The threaded area  126  may include a first threaded segment  130  immediately followed by a second threaded segment  132 . In this embodiment, the first threaded segment  130  has a length that is preferably longer than the length of second threaded segment  132 . In addition, the threads on first segment  130  preferably have an outer diameter which is larger than the outer diameter of threads on the second segment  132 . While it is believed that the dimensional arrangements described above provide the best pool cue, the relative lengths and diameters of the first and second threaded segments may be varied relative to one another. Alternatively, the threaded area  126  may include a single threaded segment connectable to enter a joint collar  106  or a shaft section  108 , or both. 
     The carrier  104  is designed to mount the hollow shaft arrangement  102  thereon such that the central section  122  is received in the bore  118  of shaft  110  with the first end  120  being engaged against the first open end  112  of the shaft  110  and the second  124  extending beyond the second open end  114  of shaft  110  for threaded connection with joint collar  106  and shaft section  108 . 
     Joint collar  106  preferably has a cylindrical outer surface  134  flanked by a first end face  136  and a second end face  138 . Joint collar  106  is formed throughout its length with an internally threaded bore  140  which threadably receives the first threaded segment  130  on carrier  104 . Shaft section  108  has an inner end formed with a cylindrical chamber  142  for receiving and retaining a mating cylindrical insert  144  having a bore  146  formed longitudinally therein. The wall forming the bore  146  is partially formed with threads  148  and partially formed with a smooth surface  150  extending towards a closed end wall of the insert  144 . As seen best in  FIG. 5 , the end face  136  is snuggly engageable with second end  114  of shaft  110  when joint collar  106  is threaded on the first threaded segment  130  of carrier  104 . End face  138  is similarly fitted against an inner end  152  of shaft section  108  when second threaded segment  132  is threadably received in threads  148  of shaft section insert  144 , and tenon  128  is received in the remainder of bore  146 . 
     In manufacturing the pool cue  10 , one or more solid turned elements of circular cross section are easily provided with the bore  118  using only a conventional drill press to form the hollow shaft arrangement  102  which is slidably mounted upon the carrier  104  as described above. Epoxy glue is conventionally applied between certain surfaces of the carrier  104  and the shaft  110  to maintain a secure arrangement. Other desired pool cue structure, such as defined herein by joint collar  106  and shaft section  108  provided with cue tip  152  thereon, is then screwthreadedly connected to the threaded area of the carrier  104  to form an aligned, assembled pool cue  100  shown in  FIG. 6  which includes a bumper  154  joined to the butt cap  120 . 
     It should appreciated that the present disclosure thus provides a method of constructing and assembling a pool cue and particularly the butt section thereof which is faster, more efficient, less costly and free from manufacturing obstacles normally known to those in pool cue production. Specifically, there is no need for separate subassemblies formed by prior art underwrap and forearm portions to be expensively CNC machined at high labor cost with tenons, tapping, facing or turning, and then joined together using a threaded assembly rod or pin. With elimination of the numerous subassemblies, prior art straightening processes are also not required as the carrier  104  maintains the hollow shaft arrangement  102  in alignment and does not permit any non-concentricity issues in crooked butt structures. The carrier  104  is a unitary reinforcing and connecting member that also removes warping issues experienced with wood components in previous subassemblies and minimizes scraps and reworking of pool cues during assembly thereof. 
     Various alternatives are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter regarded as the invention.