Patent Application
20250073562
The present invention relates generally to the field of billiards. More specifically, the present invention relates to a billiards cue bridge device that allows a user to use a billiards cue in a one-handed, stabilized manner. Accordingly, the present disclosure makes specific reference thereto. Nonetheless, it is to be appreciated that aspects of the present invention are also equally applicable to other like applications, devices, and methods of manufacture.
Many individuals enjoy playing billiards. However, individuals with disabilities, including those who may have the use of only one arm, hand, etc., may find playing billiards challenging due to the dexterity, coordination, and stability that is required. Further, elderly billiard players may struggle for the same reasons. In addition, as the body ages it is common for fine motor skills to decline, and a firm grip or a steady hand, which are crucial for a straight stroke in billiards, might be compromised. Older players might also experience stiffness in the joints or tremors, which can make the precise control of a cue with one hand or even two more difficult.
Therefore, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a billiards-playing aid. There also exists a long-felt need in the art for a billiards cue bridge device. More specifically, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a billiards cue bridge device that allows a user to use a billiards cue with one hand. Further, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a billiards cue bridge device that allows a user to use a billiards cue with one hand wherein the device stabilizes the billiards cue during use.
The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises a billiards cue bridge device. The device is comprised of a body with an opening that receives a pool cue. The device is also comprised of a support that attaches to the body via at least one fastener. During use, the fastener rests on the surface of a billiards table and a pool cue is placed within the body such that the cue is supported by the body and support. Then, a user can use one hand to push the cue through the opening in order to take a pool shot while the cue remains supported by the device.
In this manner, the billiards cue bridge device of the present invention accomplishes all the foregoing objectives and provides a billiards-playing aid that allows a user to use a billiards cue with one hand. While doing so, the device stabilizes the billiards cue allowing the cue to be used by disabled and/or elderly users, or simply as a bridge.
The following presents a simplified summary to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed innovation. This summary is not an extensive overview, and it is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope thereof. Its sole purpose is to present some general concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.
The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises a billiards cue bridge device comprised of a body with at least one opening and a support that attaches to the body via at least one fastener. During use, the device can be used to stabilize a pool cue, requiring the individual only uses one hand to use the cue while playing.
The body is preferably cylindrical shaped and is comprised of at least one opening. The opening allows at least one billiards cue shaft to be placed through the opening while using the device. The opening may be comprised of at least one lining. The lining preferably has a low coefficient of friction (such as, but not limited to, polymer, PTFE, etc.,) to allow the billiards cue shaft to easily slide through the opening during use of the device.
The device is also comprised of at least one support that attaches to the body via at least one fastener. In one embodiment, the exterior surface of the support is comprised of at least one protective lining such as, but not limited to, felt or other fabric. The lining prevents the support from damaging the surface of a billiards table when the support is placed on said surface while using the device.
The present invention is also comprised of a method of using the device. First, a device is provided comprised of a body comprised of an opening and a support that attaches to the body via at least one fastener. Then, the support can be attached to the body by placing the fastener of the support around the body. Next, the device can be placed on a surface of a billiards table. Then, a billiards cue shaft can be placed through the opening of the body. Next, the device and billiards cue can be positioned relative to a billiards ball to hit a shot. While the shaft is supported by the body and support, a user can push the shaft through the opening to strike the billiards ball.
Accordingly, the billiards cue bridge device of the present invention is particularly advantageous as it provides a billiards-playing aid that allows a user to use a billiards cue with one hand. While doing so, the device stabilizes the billiards cue allowing the cue to be used by disabled and/or elderly users. In this manner, the billiards cue bridge device overcomes the limitations of existing methods of playing billiards known in the art.
To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects of the disclosed innovation are described herein in connection with the following description and the annexed drawings. These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles disclosed herein can be employed and are intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. Other advantages and novel features will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings.
The description refers to provided drawings in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the different views, and in which:
The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the innovation can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form to facilitate a description thereof. Various embodiments are discussed hereinafter. It should be noted that the figures are described only to facilitate the description of the embodiments. They are not intended as an exhaustive description of the invention and do not limit the scope of the invention. Additionally, an illustrated embodiment need not have all the aspects or advantages shown. Thus, in other embodiments, any of the features described herein from different embodiments may be combined.
As noted above, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a billiards-playing aid. There also exists a long-felt need in the art for a billiards cue bridge device. More specifically, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a billiards cue bridge device that allows a user to use a billiards cue with one hand. Further, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a billiards cue bridge device that allows a user to use a billiards cue with one hand wherein the device stabilizes the billiards cue during use.
The present invention, in one exemplary embodiment, is comprised of a billiards cue bridge device. The device is comprised of a body with at least one opening and a support that attaches to the body via at least one fastener. During use, the device can be used to stabilize a pool cue, requiring the individual only uses one hand to use the cue while playing.
The body is preferably cylindrical shaped and is comprised of at least one opening. The opening allows at least one billiards cue shaft to be placed through the opening while using the device. The opening may be comprised of at least one lining. The lining preferably has a low coefficient of friction (such as, but not limited to, polymer, PTFE, etc.,) to allow the billiards cue shaft to easily slide through the opening during use of the device.
The device is also comprised of at least one support that attaches to the body via at least one fastener. In one embodiment, the exterior surface of the support is comprised of at least one protective lining such as, but not limited to, felt or other fabric. The lining prevents the support from damaging the surface of a billiards table when the support is placed on said surface while using the device.
The present invention is also comprised of a method of using the device. First, a device is provided comprised of a body comprised of an opening and a support that attaches to the body via at least one fastener. Then, the support can be attached to the body by placing the fastener of the support around the body. Next, the device can be placed on a surface of a billiards table. Then, a billiards cue shaft can be placed through the opening of the body. Next, the device and billiards cue can be positioned relative to a billiards ball to hit a shot. While the shaft is supported by the body and support, a user can push the shaft through the opening to strike the billiards ball.
Accordingly, the billiards cue bridge device of the present invention is particularly advantageous as it provides a billiards-playing aid that allows a user to use a billiards cue with one hand. While doing so, the device stabilizes the billiards cue allowing the cue to be used by disabled and/or elderly users. In this manner, the billiards cue bridge device overcomes the limitations of existing methods of playing billiards known in the art.
Referring initially to the drawings,
The body 110 is preferably cylindrical shaped. However, the body 110 may be any shape in different embodiments. In one embodiment, the body 110 may be shaped like any item, object, theme, etc., known in the art. The body 110 may also be comprised of at least one indicia 116. The indicia 116 may be in the form of a pattern, design, image, symbol, word, picture, etc. In one embodiment, the body 110 is comprised of a two-piece construction, where the two pieces of the body can be attached via at least one fastener 130, as seen in
The body 110 is comprised of at least one opening 112, as seen in
The device 100 is also comprised of at least one support 120. The support 120 attaches to the body 110 via at least one fastener 126. The fastener 126 is preferably a clip-like fastener. However, the fastener 126 may be any type such as a clamp, tongue and groove, etc. In one embodiment, the support 120 is fixedly attached to the body 110.
The support 120 is comprised of at least one weight 128 to increase the weight of the support 120. This helps the support 120 balance a billiards cute shaft 10 when the shaft 10 is placed within the opening 112 of the body 110. In one embodiment, the exterior surface 122 of the support 120 is comprised of at least one protective lining such as, but not limited to, felt or other fabric. The lining 124 prevents the support 120 from damaging the surface of a billiards table when the support 120 is placed on said surface while using the device 100. The lining 124 may be made from a rubber material in one embodiment to improve the grip of the support 120 on a billiards table surface.
The present invention is also comprised of a method of using 200 the device 100, as seen in
Certain terms are used throughout the following description and claims to refer to particular features or components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, different persons may refer to the same feature or component by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components or features that differ in name but not structure or function. As used herein “billiards cue bridge device” and “device” are interchangeable and refer to the billiards cue bridge device 100 of the present invention.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the billiards cue bridge device 100 of the present invention and its various components can be of any suitable size and configuration as is known in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention, provided that they accomplish the above-stated objectives. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the size, configuration, and material of the billiards cue bridge device 100 as shown in the FIGS. are for illustrative purposes only, and that many other sizes and shapes of the billiards cue bridge device 100 are well within the scope of the present disclosure. Although the dimensions of the billiards cue bridge device 100 are important design parameters for user convenience, the billiards cue bridge device 100 may be of any size, shape, and/or configuration that ensures optimal performance during use and/or that suits the user's needs and/or preferences.
Various modifications and additions can be made to the exemplary embodiments discussed without departing from the scope of the present invention. While the embodiments described above refer to particular features, the scope of this invention also includes embodiments having different combinations of features and embodiments that do not include all the described features. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations as fall within the scope of the claims, together with all equivalents thereof.
What has been described above includes examples of the claimed subject matter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the claimed subject matter are possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications, and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.
The present application claims priority to, and the benefit of, U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/579,671, which was filed on Aug. 30, 2023, and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63579671 | Aug 2023 | US |
