SELF-CENTERING BILLIARD CUE SHAFT EXTENSION

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a non-provisional application and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/743,535, filed January 9, 2025, the entirety of the teachings of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to the field of billiards cues and more particularly to the extension of the shaft of a billiards cue.

Description of the Related Art

[0003] A fundamental aspect of any billiards game is the relationship between the geometry of the table and the combined reach of the player and cue stick. To execute a proper shot, the player must position the tip of the cue stick against the cue ball at the correct angle, speed, and alignment without climbing onto the table or otherwise interfering with play. Control of the cue is typically achieved by resting its tip in an arch formed by one hand, known as the “bridge,” while the other hand propels the cue. For this technique to function properly, the bridge hand must be placed close to the cue tip and, therefore, near the cue ball.

[0004] Standard billiards tables are among the largest used in cue sports, measuring approximately two meters by three and a half meters in the horizontal plane and standing about one meter above the floor. It has long been recognized that a player cannot reach every possible location on such a table at every desired angle while maintaining proper form without climbing onto the playing surface—a practice generally prohibited by the rules, with rare exceptions. This limitation is particularly pronounced for smaller players.

[0005] To address these reach limitations, players have traditionally relied on a “fixed bridge,” which consists of a stick with a notched end. The fixed bridge is placed on the table at an otherwise inaccessible location, with the notch supporting the cue stick near its tip. The player then guides the cue along this support to execute the shot.

[0006] However, fixed bridges present several significant disadvantages. First, the notch provides only a limited number of discrete height and alignment options, unlike the near-infinite variability of a hand-formed bridge. Second, use of a fixed bridge increases the distance between the player and the cue tip, forcing the player to alter body position and disrupt well-established kinesthetic relationships among muscles, tendons, joints, and bones. As a result, the player must abandon familiar mechanics and adopt an unfamiliar and less intuitive technique.

[0007] Similar drawbacks arise from attempts to extend the cue stick itself, either by adding an extension at one end or inserting one at the center. Such modifications alter the cue’s balance and weight, again requiring the player to deviate from their normal and practiced shooting motion.

[0008] Attempts have also been made to create front-end cue extensions using friction-based fittings rather than precise or adjustable connections. These designs introduce multiple potential problems, including a heightened risk of damage to the cue. Additionally, such extensions often lack compatibility with different shaft sizes and are typically constructed from materials heavier and weaker than carbon fiber, further degrading performance and reliability.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to the extension of the shaft of a billiard cue and provide a novel and non-obvious billiard cue shaft extension. In an embodiment of the invention, a billiard cue shaft extension is provided for fitment onto the end of a shaft and without the need for an adjustable fastener. The billiard cue shaft extension can be provided as a one piece or as multiple pieces with varying lengths up to thirteen inches and also including adjustable lengths.

[0010] The above and other objects of the invention are realized in a specific illustrative embodiment of a billiard cue shaft extension. As described herein, a billiard cue shaft extension configured in accordance with the inventive embodiments includes a hollow shaft defining an elongated cavity and a concave inner piece disposed within and friction fit to the elongated cavity. The concave inner piece is adapted to self-center the cue tip of a billiard cue shaft once inserted at a proximal end of the extension into the elongated cavity of the extension without regard to the size of cue tip. Additional elements of the billiard cue shaft extension include a ferrule and tip fixed to a distal end of the extension.

[0011] In one aspect of the embodiment, the proximal end of the extension includes an adjustable rubber/leather gasket that allows the shaft of the billiard cue shaft to enter and exit the cavity freely therefore not marring or marking the extension. In another aspect of the embodiment, a fastener is defined at the proximal end of the extension, for instance a threaded exterior so as to permit the fixation of a shaft collar onto the threaded exterior to secure the extension onto the billiard cue shaft. In yet another aspect of the embodiment, the shaft can be constructed from varying materials, for example carbon fiber where strength and lightness in weight are of importance in order to emulate the performance of a billiard cue without adding substantial weight.

[0012] Additional aspects of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The aspects of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. The embodiments illustrated herein are presently preferred, it being understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown, wherein:

[0014]FIG. 1 is side, cross-sectional view of the billiard cue shaft extension with a fragmented side cross sectional view of a billiard cue stick inserted therein and including a terraced concave insert.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] Embodiments of the invention provide for a billiard cue shaft extension adapted to receive a billiard cue shaft and to extend the length thereof including a terraced concave extension. The terraced concave extension supports the self-centering of the tip of the billiard cue shaft once the billiard cue shaft has been inserted into a cavity defined by the extension so as to not require a bespoke receptacle for each size of tip of a supported billiard cue shaft.

[0016] In further illustration, FIG. 1 shows a side, cross-sectional view of the billiard cue shaft extension with a fragmented side cross sectional view of a billiard cue stick inserted therein and including a terraced concave insert. As shown in FIG. 1, a billiard cue shaft extension 100 defines an interior cavity into which a concave insert 110 is friction fit against the interior walls of the extension 100. The billiard cue shaft extension 100 includes an extension tip 130 fixed to a distal end of the extension 100 with a ferrule 120 inserted into the cavity of the extension 100. Finally, the extension 100 includes at a distal end of the cavity, a fastener 140 such as a threaded portion of the exterior surface of the extension 100 adapted to receive a collar so that when the collar rotatingly engages the threads of the fastener 140, the collar compresses the distal end of the extension against an exterior surface of the billiards cue shaft 170 to provide a firm engagement of the extension 100 to the billiards cue shaft 170.

[0017] Of importance, the concave insert 110 is a terraced concave insert. To that end, the concave insert 100 includes an exterior cylindrical body 150 and a conically sloped interior surface 160 with terracing. The terracing as shown can be a series of concentric discs separated from one another with decreasing perimeters as the discs approach a termination position at an interior of the concave insert 100. In this way, upon insertion of the billiards cue shaft 170 to be extended into a proximal end of the extension 100, the cue shaft tip 180 of the billiards cue shaft 170 terminates at the conically sloped interior surface 160 with the terracing of the conically sloped interior surface 160 centering the cue shaft tip 180 within the cavity of the extension 100.

[0018] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "include", "includes", and/or "including," when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

[0019] The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.

[0020]Having thus described the invention of the present application in detail and by reference to embodiments thereof, it will be apparent that modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention defined in the appended claims as follows: