Patent Publication Number: US-6341399-B2

Title: Pool cue multi-function tip tool

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of patent application Ser. No. 09/617,703 filed Jul. 17, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,226,825, and claims benefit of Ser. No. 60/144,211, filed Jul. 14, 1999. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The present version of this invention relates generally to the field of tools used to dress, adjust, measure and conform the tips of pool cues to a users preference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     This invention relates to tools for dressing, adjusting, measuring and conforming a pool cue tip to a users preference, and more particularly to a handy compact tool for preparing a pool cue tip for play. 
     Pool players use cues to play and many players have their own cues with which they play pool. Some cues are heavier or lighter and can have larger or smaller diameter shafts depending on a user&#39;s preference. 
     How the tip of the cue is dressed or adjusted plays a big part in how the force from the cue is transferred to the ball. Break shots may require a flat tip, while others may require a rounded tip. The shape of the tip affects what type of spin a player can put on a ball. A different type of spin is needed depending on the type of shot. Good pool requires a player to make an infinite number of shots under a large number of conditions and angles. The tip must be adjusted or shaped differently to hold chalk and to perform these different type of shots successfully. The adjusting to the tip must be done quickly and discreetly. The ability to discreetly and quickly dress a pool cue tip with a single tool is what makes this Pool Cue Tool so helpful, practical and useful. 
     This tool combines many of the features that pool players need in adjusting the tips of their cues. Instead of carrying many different tools, this device combines several tools into a compact portable package. A pool player can dress or adjust his/her tip easily with one compact multi-purpose tool and hence theoretically, improve his/her shot and ultimately his/her game. 
     For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for a multi-purpose compact Pool Cue Tool. 
     OBJECTS 
     A first object of this embodiment of the invention is to provide a compact tool for adjusting the tip of a pool cue. 
     Another object of this embodiment of the invention is to provide a tool to perform many of the most frequent adjustments to the tip of a pool cue. 
     It is yet another object of this embodiment of the invention to provide a tool that is compact and portable, eliminating a bulky set of tip adjustment tools. 
     It is a still further object of this embodiment of the invention to provide a tool that is aesthetically pleasing, durable and functional. 
     A final object of this embodiment of the invention is to provide a tool that is cost effective to manufacture. 
     These together with other objects of this invention, along with various features of novelty which characterize this invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of this invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of this version of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 shows a side view of one embodiment of the tip dressing tool. 
     FIG. 2 shows a top view of one embodiment of the tip dressing tool. 
     FIG. 3 shows a view of one embodiment the other side of the tip dressing tool. 
     FIG. 4 shows an end view of one embodiment of the tip dressing tool. 
     FIG. 5 is a bottom view of one embodiment of the tip dressing tool. 
     FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of one embodiment along A—A in FIG.  5 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to the drawings in detail wherein like elements are indicated by like numerals, there is shown in FIGS. 1-6 a tool  20  for dressing the tips of pool cues. 
     The tool  20  has a channel shaped casing  1  with  3  sides, FIG.  4 . The casing  1  in a preferred embodiment is cast from brass. The first side  22  has upon the exterior an abrasive strip  2 , FIG.  1 . 
     The abrasive strip  2  can be made from any type of abrasive materials commonly known in the art and attached to the first side  22 . The preferred embodiment utilizes a general purpose anti-slip material such as 3M Safety Walk Anti-Slip material. The abrasive strip  2  is mounted on a pressure sensitive backing and placed on the first side  22 . If the abrasive strip  2  should wear out, it can be removed and replaced. The abrasive strip  2  can be used to shape the tip flat primarily for the break shot. 
     Once the tip is flattened with the abrasive strip  2 , the knurled surface  3  on the second side  34  can be pressed onto the flat end of the tip creating indentations in the tip, FIG.  3 . The indentations can then be chalked with a chalk block (not shown) where the chalk becomes impregnated into the indentations. 
     The first side  22  is connected to a center piece  24 , FIG.  4 . The center piece  24  can have one or more concave spherical indentations corresponding in size to common pool cue tips. A preferred embodiment has first indentation  26  and second indentation  28  which is smaller than first indentation  26 , FIG.  2 . The first indentation  26  has an abrasive insert  4  which is fastened to the inner surface of the first indentation  26 , FIG.  2 . The second indentation  28  has an abrasive insert  5  which is fastened to the inner surface of the second indentation  28 , FIG.  2 . The preferred embodiment utilizes a general purpose anti-slip material such as 3M Safety Walk Anti-Slip Material. The abrasive inserts  4 , 5  are mounted on a pressure sensitive adhesive backing and placed in the first and second indentation  26 , 28 . If the abrasive inserts  4 ,  5  should wear out, they can be easily replaced with replacement inserts. Center piece  24  can also have nickel contour gauge  9  corresponding in size to the first indentation  26  and dime contour gauge  8  corresponding in size to the second indentation  28 . 
     The abrasive insert  4  in the first indentation  26  and the abrasive insert  5  in the second indentation  28  can be used to abrade the tip of the cue into a rounded shape by turning the tip inside the appropriately sized indentation  26 ,  28 . As the user is turning the tip in the first or second indentation  26 ,  28 , the contour of the tip can be checked by aligning the tip with the appropriate contour gauge  8 ,  9 . Depending on the results of the visual inspection, the user can abrade the tip more in the first or second indentation  26 ,  28  or use the cue to play. 
     The second side  34  is attached to the center piece  24 , opposite and approximately parallel to the first side  22 , FIG.  4 . Second side  34  has a knurled surface  3 . A carrying ring  6  may be attached through a ring hole  14  in the second side  28 , FIG.  3 . 
     Extending between the first side  22  and the second side  34  are at least two knurled textured wheels  7 . The wheels  7 , have a larger diameter where they are attached to the first and second sides  22 ,  34  and taper as they approach a mid point between the first and second sides  22 ,  34 , FIG.  5 . The wheels  7  in a preferred embodiment, are machined from aluminum, knurled and hardened. The wheels  7  are attached to the first side  22  and the second side  34  in wheel holes  16  in the first side  22  (not shown) and second side  34 , FIG.  3 . The wheel holes provide a rotational fixture such that the wheels  7  can rotate relative to the casing  1 . The wheels  7  are used to roll over a rounded tip creating indentations in the tip. The indentations can then be chalked with a chalk block (not shown) where the chalk becomes impregnated into the indentations. 
     It will now be apparent to those skilled in the art that other embodiments, improvements, details and uses can be made consistent with the letter and spirit of the foregoing disclosure and within the scope of this patent, which is limited only by the following claims, construed in accordance with the patent law, including the doctrine of equivalents.