This patent specification relates to the field of bridge devices for use in billiards. More specifically, this patent specification relates to an adjustable bridge device for use in billiards.
A billiards bride or cue rest is a device that is used by setting the head of the bridge on a spot on a pool table that is too far away for a pool or snooker player to reach without using something to aid the player. The length of most pool tables is seven or eight feet across. Some snooker table and other billiards tables can be nine feet or longer. When shooting at balls at the far end of a billiards table a player cannot reach the balls to shoot them. To use a bridge, the head of the bridge is placed close to the cue ball usually using a shaft attached to the bridge. Once the bridge is placed on the table at the proper spot, the player can rest the end of the cue stick on the bridge head to enable the player to more easily line up the cue stick with the cue ball to shoot the cue ball at the desired target.
Most currently available billiards bridges or cue rests basically are a solid piece of plastic, aluminum, or brass that has spots to rest a cue stick so that the player only need to hold up the butt of the cue stick. These bridges tend to be rectangular in shape and have one to four positions to lay the bridge thereby only allowing a finite and limited number of cue stick support positions and elevations to play the correct height on the cue ball. For example, these bridges are unable to position the bridge head over or in between balls and cannot be used on the pool table rails for support. They can only be used on the table surface in front of or behind balls to support the end of the cue stick on the other end of the table. While this is adequate for most shots using a bridge, there are often shots that come up that if one could only place the bridge at any desired location on the table would make the shot much easier to shoot and be more accurate.
Therefore, there exists a need for novel billiard bridge devices. There is also a need for novel billiard bridge devices that provide many cue stick support positions that allows for greater flexibility when setting up a shot. Finally, a need exists for novel billiard bridge devices that can be used on any table surface location in front of or behind balls to support the end of the cue stick on the other end of the table.
An adjustable billiards bridge device is provided which comprise cue surfaces which may support a cue stick and the movements of the cue stick across the cue surfaces. The device may be moved into different configurations to enable the cue surfaces to be positioned a desired height and distance from a billiards ball that the user intends to strike with a cue stick while the cue stick may be supported on a cue surface that is a desired height and distance from the billiards ball. In some embodiments, the device may comprise a body having a first end and an opposing second end with one or more central cue surfaces disposed on the body. A first leg may be pivotally coupled to the first end of the body, and the first leg may have one or more peripheral cue surfaces. A second leg may be pivotally coupled to the second end of the body, and the second leg may have one or more peripheral cue surfaces. A coupler may be positioned centrally on the body between the first end and the second end. The coupler may be configured to couple the device to a positioning stick which may be used by an individual to position the device on a billiards table or other surface. The first leg and second leg may be individually movable relative to the body to enable the device to assume a plurality of configurations.
In further embodiments, the device may comprise one or more body spurs which may be coupled to the body. Optionally, a body spur may comprise a central cue surface that is concave in shape.
In further embodiments, the device may comprise one or more leg spurs which may be coupled to a first leg and/or a second leg. Optionally, a leg spur may comprise a peripheral cue surface that is concave in shape.
In still further embodiments, the body may comprise detents on both the first end and second end. The detents of the first end may be engaged to detents on the first leg, and detents of the second end may be engaged to detents on the second leg. The detents of the first end may be tensioned into contact with the detents of the first leg by a first spring, and the detents of the second end may be tensioned into contact with the detents of the second leg by a second spring. The detents may govern the movement of the legs relative to the body.
Some embodiments of the present invention are illustrated as an example and are not limited by the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references may indicate similar elements and in which:
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 term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well as the singular forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one having ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and the present disclosure and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
In describing the invention, it will be understood that a number of techniques and steps are disclosed. Each of these has individual benefit and each can also be used in conjunction with one or more, or in some cases all, of the other disclosed techniques. Accordingly, for the sake of clarity, this description will refrain from repeating every possible combination of the individual steps in an unnecessary fashion. Nevertheless, the specification and claims should be read with the understanding that such combinations are entirely within the scope of the invention and the claims.
For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “left”, “right”, “rear”, “front”, “side”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in
Although the terms “first”, “second”, etc. are used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another element. For example, the first element may be designated as the second element, and the second element may be likewise designated as the first element without departing from the scope of the invention.
As used in this application, the term “about” or “approximately” refers to a range of values within plus or minus 10% of the specified number. Additionally, as used in this application, the term “substantially” means that the actual value is within about 10% of the actual desired value, particularly within about 5% of the actual desired value and especially within about 1% of the actual desired value of any variable, element or limit set forth herein.
A new adjustable bridge device for use in billiards is discussed herein. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be evident, however, to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details.
The present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the invention, and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated by the figures or description below.
The present invention will now be described by example and through referencing the appended figures representing preferred and alternative embodiments.
In some embodiments, the device 100 may comprise a body 11 that is elongated. The body 11 may be elongated so that the first end 12 may be separated from the second end 13 a distance or length that is greater than the width and the height of the body 11. In other embodiments, the first end 12 may be separated from the second end 13 a distance or length that is approximately equal to the width and/or the height of the body 11. In some embodiments, the first end 12 may be separated from the second end 13 a distance of approximately one to seven inches and more preferably a distance of approximately two to five inches.
The body 11 may comprise one or more central cue surfaces 21 which may be configured to support and guide the movement of a billiard cue across the body 11. In some embodiments, a central cue surface 21 may be formed by one or more body spurs 22. A body spur 22 may extend above or away from the body 11. Each body spur 22 may comprise one or more central cue surfaces 21. In preferred embodiments, a central cue surface 21 of one body spur 22 may be continuous with a central cue surface 21 of a second body spur 22. A central cue surface 21 of the body 11 may be configured in a plurality of shapes, such as the concave curved shape illustrated in
In some embodiments, the body 11 may comprise one or more body supports 51 which may be positioned on the body 11 preferably on a side of the body 11 which is opposite to the one or more body spurs 22 and central cue surfaces 21. A body support 51 may comprise a protrusion which may extend below the body 11 to form a point of contact between the body 11 and an object upon which the body 11 may be rested, such as on a play field 301 (
The body 11, one or more body spurs 22, and one or more cue surface 21 of a body 11 may preferably be made of or comprise substantially rigid material(s) such as steel alloys, aluminum, aluminum alloys, copper alloys, any other type of metal or metal alloy, any type of ceramic, various types of hard plastics, such as polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polycarbonate, nylon, Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) also known as acrylic, melamine, hard rubbers, fiberglass, carbon fiber, resins, such as epoxy resin, wood, other plant based materials, or any other material including combinations of materials that are substantially rigid.
The device 100 may comprise one or more legs, such as a first leg 14 and a second leg 15. Preferably, one or more legs 14, 15, may comprise one or more peripheral cue surfaces 23 which may be configured to support and guide the movement of a billiard cue across a leg 14, 15. In some embodiments, a peripheral cue surface 23 may be formed by one or more leg spurs 24. A leg spur 24 may extend above or away from a leg 14, 15. Each leg spur 24 may comprise one or more peripheral cue surfaces 23. In some embodiments, a peripheral cue surface 23 of one leg spur 24 may be separate and distinct with a peripheral cue surface 23 of a second leg spur 24 on the same leg 14, 15. For example, a peripheral cue surface 23 of one leg spur 24 on the first leg 14 may not be continuous with a peripheral cue surface 23 of a second leg spur 24 on the first leg 14. In alternative embodiments, a peripheral cue surface 23 of one leg spur 24 may be continuous with a peripheral cue surface 23 of a second leg spur 24 on the same leg 14, 15. For example, a peripheral cue surface 23 of one leg spur 24 on the first leg 14 may be continuous with a peripheral cue surface 23 of a second leg spur 24 on the first leg 14.
A peripheral cue surface 23 of a leg 14, 15, may be configured in a plurality of shapes, such as the concave curved shape illustrated in
In some embodiments, a first leg 14 may comprise one or more first leg supports 53. Optionally, a first leg support 53 may be positioned on the end of the first leg 14 which is opposite to the end or portion of the first leg 14 which is coupled to the body 11. A first leg support 53 may comprise a protrusion which may extend away the leg spurs 24 and peripheral cue surfaces 23 of the first leg 14 to form a point of contact between the first leg 14 and an object upon which the first leg 14 may be rested, such as on a play field 301, cushion 302, and/or rail 303 of a billiards table 300. A first leg support 53 may comprise a rounded shape, a curved shape, an angular shape or pointed shape, or any other shape suitable for contacting portions of a billiards table 300. In preferred embodiments, a first leg support 53 may be separated from the end or portion of the first leg 14 which is coupled to the body 11 a distance of approximately one to seven inches and more preferably a distance of approximately two to five inches.
Similarly, and in some embodiments, a second leg 15 may comprise one or more second leg supports 55. Optionally, a second leg support 55 may be positioned on the end of the second leg 15 which is opposite to the end or portion of the second leg 15 which is coupled to the body 11. A second leg support 55 may comprise a protrusion which may extend away the leg spurs 24 and peripheral cue surfaces 23 of the second leg 15 to form a point of contact between the second leg 15 and an object upon which the second leg 15 may be rested, such as on a play field 301, cushion 302, and/or rail 303 of a billiards table 300. A second leg support 55 may comprise a rounded shape, a curved shape, an angular shape or pointed shape, or any other shape suitable for contacting portions of a billiards table 300. In preferred embodiments, a second leg support 55 may be separated from the end or portion of the second leg 15 which is coupled to the body 11 a distance of approximately one to seven inches and more preferably a distance of approximately two to five inches.
In preferred embodiments, a first leg 14 may be movably coupled to the first end 12 and a second leg 15 may be movably coupled to the second end 13. Any suitable movably coupling may be used to couple a first leg 14 and second leg 15 to the body 11, including a hinged coupling such as a butt hinge, barrel hinge, concealed hinge, piano hinge, or any other hinge, a pivotal or rotating coupling such as a rivet, bearing, knuckle joint, universal joint, male ball joint and female socket joint, or any other pivotal or rotating coupling, or any other method of movably coupling two objects together so that one object may be moved, pivoted, rotated, or the like, relative to the other object.
In some embodiments, the device 100 may comprise one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, or more, such as a plurality of, detents 33 which may be configured to contact another element of the device 100 to govern the movement of a leg 14, 15, relative to the body 11. In further embodiments, the device 100 may comprise one or more detents 33 at an interface between the first leg 14 and the body, and the device 100 may comprise one or more detents 33 at an interface between the second leg 15 and the body 11 and with the detents 33 used to hold the second legs 14, 15, in one or more temporarily fixed positions relative to the body 11. For example, the device 100 may comprise a spring loaded joint and one or more detents 33 disposed at an interface between the second leg 15 and the body 11, and the spring loaded ball and detents 33 may form a mechanical arrangement to hold the second leg 15 in one or more temporarily fixed positions relative to the body 11.
In preferred embodiments, the device 100 may comprise one or more springs 34 which may be configured to tension a leg 14, 15, or an element coupled to the leg 14, 15, into contact with the body 11 or with an element coupled to the body 11. For example, the body 11 may comprise a spring 34 configured to tension the first arm 14 towards the body 11, and both the first arm 14 and body 11 may comprise one or more detents 33. The spring 34 may tension the detents 33 of the second arm and second end 13 of the body 11 into contact to form a mechanical arrangement to hold the second leg 15 in one or more temporarily fixed positions relative to the body 11. In another example, the body 11 may comprise one or more detents 33 on both the first end 12 and on the second end 13. The first leg 14 may comprise one or more detents 33, and the second leg 15 may comprise one or more detents 33. The detents 33 of the first end 12 may be tensioned into contact with the detents 33 of the first leg 14 by a first spring 34, and the detents 33 of the second end 13 may be tensioned into contact with the detents 33 of the second leg 15 by a second spring 34 so that the detents 33 and springs 34 may form a mechanical arrangement to hold the legs 14, 15, in one or more temporarily fixed positions relative to the body 11.
Optionally, the device 100 may comprise one or more washers 35 which may be configured to limit or govern the amount of tension that a spring 34 may exert on an interface between a leg 14, 15, and the body 11. In further embodiments, the device 100 may comprise one or more caps 36 which may be configured to cover portions of a male fastener 31, female fastener 32, spring 34, and/or washer 35. In still further embodiments, a washer 35 may be used to frictionally couple a cap 36 to an element of the device 100 such as to a spring 34, male fastener 31, and/or female fastener 32.
The device 100 may comprise one or more couplers 41. A coupler 41 may be configured to couple the device 100 to a positioning stick 200 (
As shown in
Turning now to
Referring to
In other embodiments, coupler 41 may comprise an aperture 43 and a portion of a positioning stick 200, such as a cue stick 201, may be removably coupled to the device 100 within the aperture 43 with a fastener such as a male threaded fastener 31, rivet, adhesive, or any other coupling method. In alternative embodiments, a positioning stick 200, such as a cue stick 201, may be integrally formed with or otherwise coupled to a coupler 41 so that the positioning stick 200 and coupler 41 may not be separated. In still further embodiments, the device 100 may comprise a positioning stick 200 which may be coupled to a coupler 41.
As perhaps best shown in
While some materials have been provided, in other embodiments, the elements that comprise the device 100 such as the body 11, optional body spur(s) 22, first leg 14, second leg 15, optional leg spur(s) 24, and/or any other element discussed herein may be made from durable materials such as aluminum, steel, other metals and metal alloys, wood, hard rubbers, hard plastics, fiber reinforced plastics, carbon fiber, fiber glass, resins, polymers or any other suitable materials including combinations of materials. Additionally, one or more elements may be made from or comprise durable and slightly flexible materials such as soft plastics, silicone, soft rubbers, or any other suitable materials including combinations of materials. In some embodiments, one or more of the elements that comprise the device 100 may be coupled or connected together with heat bonding, chemical bonding, adhesives, clasp type fasteners, clip type fasteners, rivet type fasteners, threaded type fasteners, other types of fasteners, or any other suitable joining method. In other embodiments, one or more of the elements that comprise the device 100 may be coupled or removably connected by being press fit or snap fit together, by one or more fasteners such as hook and loop type or Velcro® fasteners, magnetic type fasteners, threaded type fasteners, sealable tongue and groove fasteners, snap fasteners, clip type fasteners, clasp type fasteners, ratchet type fasteners, a push-to-lock type connection method, a turn-to-lock type connection method, a slide-to-lock type connection method or any other suitable temporary connection method as one reasonably skilled in the art could envision to serve the same function. In further embodiments, one or more of the elements that comprise the device 100 may be coupled by being one of connected to and integrally formed with another element of the device 100.
Although the present invention has been illustrated and described herein with reference to preferred embodiments and specific examples thereof, it will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that other embodiments and examples may perform similar functions and/or achieve like results. All such equivalent embodiments and examples are within the spirit and scope of the present invention, are contemplated thereby, and are intended to be covered by the following claims.
This application claims priority to and the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/408,741, filed on Oct. 15, 2016, entitled “Multiple leg adjustable pool billiards cue bridge/rest device”, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
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20180104568 A1 | Apr 2018 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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62408741 | Oct 2016 | US |