Abstract:
A bridgestick having a telescoping handle and a quick disconnect bridge. The handle incorporates internal locking elements to prevent separation of the telescoping segments. Each joint between segments includes an internal stiffener that minimizes deflection of the handle when fully extended. The bridge includes a hollow receptacle for receiving an end of the handle. The receptacle and handle utilize a pin and socket arrangement to removably connect the bridge to the handle.

Description:
SPECIFIC DATA RELATED TO THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention claims the priority of U.S. provisional application No. 60/592,680 filed Jul. 30, 2004. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to the game of pool or billiards and, more particularly, to a telescoping bridge for such game.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,908,214 issued to the assignee of the present invention describes a telescoping handle for a golf ball retriever that has an improved method for preventing separation of the multiple sections forming the retriever handle. While this handle has been found to be very practical for the average golf ball retriever, it has been found that the weight of the retriever handle causes the retriever to assume a bent or arcuate shape making it difficult to accurately position the end of the retriever containing the golf ball gathering device onto a golf ball that is being retrieved. U.S. Pat. No. 4,907,799 describes a telescoping bridge for billiards using a special bridge support and which is believed to have the same bending attributes as the above described retriever handle. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0004]     For a better understanding of the present invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is simplified view of a telescoping bridge in accordance with one form of the present invention;  
         [0006]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of one tubular section of the handle of the bridge of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0007]      FIG. 3  is an end view of a sleeve used in the bridge handle;  
         [0008]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the sleeve of  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0009]      FIG. 5  is a partial cross-sectional view of a joint in the telescoping bridge handle;  
         [0010]      FIG. 6  us a rear view of the bridge support of  FIG. 1 ; and  
         [0011]      FIG. 7  is an exploded side view of the support of  FIG. 6  with adjacent handle details. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0012]     Applicant has found that telescoping handles, when positioned in an extended state, could be made stiffer and avoid many of the bending problems associated with prior telescoping handles using a small stiffener, or plug, at the juncture of each joint of the handle.  
         [0013]     Before describing the particular invention disclosed herein, it should be noted that the entire disclosure of U.S. Pat. No. 5,908,214 is incorporated herein by reference and that some of the drawings of the &#39;214 patent are utilized to illustrate the present invention.  
         [0014]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the bridge  10  includes a grip portion  16 , a telescoping extension  12  and a cue support  14 . The handle  12  comprises a plurality of telescope segments or tubes  18 , each of which has a sequentially smaller diameter and sequentially shorter length. The diameter may be about 0.75 inch for the outermost tube  18  (C in  FIG. 1 ) and about 0.375 inch for the innermost tube  18  (A in  FIG. 1 ). The tube  18  lengths may vary from about 24 inches to about 12 inches. Since each section may have less than one inch of overlap, the extended handle tends to exhibit substantial flexing. Accordingly, referring to  FIGS. 2 and 5 , it can be seen that the handle  12  is modified by incorporating a stiffener, or a plug  11 , which extends into an end portion of each section or tube  18  of the handle. The plug  11  is positioned in an end  20  of the associated tube  18 , such as tube A, remaining within an adjacent larger diameter tube, such as tube B, when extended, for example, as shown in  FIG. 1 . Each of the plugs  11  has an outside diameter which fits snugly within the inside diameter of the associated tube  18 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the length  31  of the plug  11  is at least as long as, and may be greater than, an overlap length  33  of the associated tube A and the adjacent larger diameter tube B when in the extended state. In a preferred embodiment, the plug  11  has a length of about 1.25 inches. However, different length plugs  11  may be used at the different intersections depending on the diameter of the handle section or tube  18 .  
         [0015]     The plug  11  may further include a cap  13  which has an outside diameter  21  that is approximately the same as the outside diameter  23  of the associated tube  18  so that the plug  11  fits into the tube  18  but is stopped from slipping further into the tube  18  by means of the edges of the cap  13  contacting the edges of the tube  18  at the end  20  when the plug  11  is inserted into the tube  18 .  FIG. 5  shows how the cap  13  has a diameter  21  sufficient to prevent the plug  11  from penetrating or slipping into the tube  18 .  
         [0016]     Each plug  11  is also provided with a small slot  15  for receiving the bent element  32 , or crimped portion, in each of the associated sleeves, or C-clips  30 . The slot  15  is necessary to allow the element  32  to penetrate through the slot  34  in the tube  18  so that the C-clip  30  is not able to move with respect to the tube  18  once the multiple tubes have been assembled into a single telescoping handle  12  as shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0017]     In an aspect of the invention, the plug  11  is formed from a polymer, such as plastic or nylon. The material of the plug  11  is not critical but should be of a type that will provide rigidity so that the plug  11  itself cannot be deformed. What applicant has found is that by using a short plug  11  at each joint  17 , the handle  12  acquires a high degree of stiffness.  
         [0018]      FIG. 6  illustrates a rear view of one form of cue support  14  commonly referred to as a bridge, that may be used in the present invention. The particular shape or design of the support  14  may be varied but typically incorporates a plurality of slots  40  that are used to support a cue stick at different heights. The support  14  also has openings  42  for weight reduction. The combination of telescoping handle  12  and cue support  14  is referred to herein as a bridgestick.  
         [0019]     Combining  FIG. 6  with the exploded edge view of  FIG. 7 , the support  14  has a hollow receptacle  44  for receiving an end  46  of handle  12 . The end  46  includes a pair of opposing pins  48  which fit into mating axially oriented slots  50  of receptacle  44 . The support  14  is latched to handle  12  by rotating end  46  so that pins  48  are positioned in circumferential recesses  52  on opposite sides of receptacle  44 . A spring  54  inserted in receptacle  44  exerts a force to maintain pins  48  in recesses  52  to prevent separation of the support  14  from handle  12 . The slots  50  and recesses  52  form an L-shaped receptacle for the pins  48 . While this arrangement provides for a secure and quick connection between handle  12  and support  14 , it will be recognized that other connection means may be used such as, for example, spring loaded pins  48  and mating holes in receptacle  44 .  
         [0020]     The handle grip  16  is preferably tapered and formed of a polished material such as wood but may be of a polymer. However, the preference is to have a grip of a size, shape and material comparable to a conventional cue stick grip area with one of the handle sections  18  seated within the grip  16 .