BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to billiard cue sticks and, more particularly, to a billiard cue stick having a stash compartment.
2. Description of the Related Art
Billiards is often played in settings where money is bet on games. Players will typically bring cash for this purpose. However, cash can easily be lost or stolen, particularly as the player must devote concentration primarily to the game itself. Additionally, the player will want to bring money to pay for drinks, snacks, etc. Furthermore, the player may wish to have access to small items, such as a cigarette.
Various devices, such as a money belt, may be used to conceal items. While these may suffice, they are not always suitable to store certain items, such as cigarettes. Furthermore, such devices often include a concealed zipper which makes access somewhat difficult. Additionally, clothing or accessories having hidden compartments may not fit well or match the wearer's other clothes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An objective of the present invention is to provide a cue stick with the capability to contain and conceal small items. One aspect of the invention relates to a storage concealment system, comprising a cue stick having a cavity; and a canister fitted within the cavity wherein the canister is accessible by a player. The canister can be substantially cylindrical and include a cover, for example. The cue stick can include a detachable butt cap allowing access to the canister by the player. In an embodiment, the cavity extends into the butt cap and most of the canister fits therein. In some embodiments, the canister is weighted allowing the user to adjust the overall weight of the cue by selecting a canister having the desired weight, e.g., from 1 to 3 ounces.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 illustrates a diagram of a typical two-piece cue stick;
FIG. 2 illustrates a partial exploded view of a rear portion of a cue stick having a stash compartment and canister therein, according to a first embodiment;
FIG. 3 illustrates a partial exploded view of the rear portion of a cue stick having a stash compartment and canister therein, according to a second embodiment;
FIG. 4A illustrates an exemplary canister shown in a closed configuration; and
FIG. 4B illustrates the canister shown in an open configuration.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to FIG. 1, a typical two-piece cue 10 includes a tip 100 which is used to strike a ball. The tip 100 is traditionally made from leather or synthetic leather, but can be constructed from another suitable material. A ferrule 105 connects the tip 100 to a shaft 110, and additionally reinforces the tip 100 and absorbs shock from when a player strikes the ball with the cue 10. The shaft 110 is the longest portion of the cue and is typically crafted from wood but can be fiberglass or graphite. The shaft 110 may be tapered from a smaller diameter at the ferrule 105 to a larger diameter at a joint collar 115. The joint collar 115 and a joint pin 120 connect the shaft 110 to the forearm 130. The joint collar 115 and a joint pin 120 allow the cue to be disassembled into two main components for ease of transportation. The joint pin 120 generally comprises male threads that thread into female threads of the joint collar 115. Veneer 135 is a decorative portion of forearm 130 that typically contains decorative inlays or overlays. Wrap 140 is typically in the middle of the bottom half of the cue below the forearm 130 and wrapped around the outside of the forearm 130 to aid the player in gripping the cue. A butt sleeve 145 is adjacent to the wrapped portion of the forearm 130 and allows players to customize the weight of the cue 10 by using an interchangeable weight system. A butt cap 150 detachably connects to the butt sleeve 145 to contain the weight system within. At an end of the cue 10 is the bumper 155. The bumper 155 is generally made of rubber or similar material to protect the end of the cue 10. Although a two-piece cue stick is illustrated, some cue sticks are a single piece. These one-piece cues do not have the joint pin 120 or joint collar 115, and the taper is usually constant from the ferrule 105 down the length of the cue to the butt cap 150.
Referring now to FIG. 2, a partial exploded view of the rear portion of a cue stick 10 having a stash compartment and canister therein, according to a first embodiment, is illustrated. As shown, the butt sleeve 145 of the cue stick 10 includes a cavity 147A. The cavity 147A can be formed by a lathe, for example. A canister 20 fits within the butt sleeve 145 and is held within the butt sleeve 145 by a butt cap 150. The canister 20 is comprised of a cover 200 and a detachable body 210. The cap 200 and the body 210 may be connected by any suitable means (e.g., threading, magnetic attraction, snap fitting, adhesives, etc.). The overall weight of the canister 20 may be as small as about 0.1 ounces. The canister 20 may also be weighted. In this case, the canister 20 can be as heavy as about 3 ounces. Where the canister 20 is weighted, the player may select an appropriate weighted canister to adjust the overall weight of the cue stick 20. The weighting feature may be accomplished by adding lead to the canister 20, for example. The cap 200 and body 210 of the canister 20 may be made from any suitable material (e.g., plastic, metal, fiberglass, wood, nylon, etc.).
FIG. 3 illustrates a partial exploded view of the rear portion of a cue stick having a stash compartment and canister therein, according to a second embodiment. The second embodiment is substantially the same as the first embodiment except that the butt cap 150 contains a cavity 147B such that all or most of the canister 20 fits entirely within the butt cap 150. In the case where a majority of the canister 20 fits in the cavity 147B with a remainder within the butt sleeve 145 (not shown), the cavity would extend from inside the butt sleeve 145 to into the butt cap 155.
FIG. 4A illustrates an exemplary canister 20 shown in a closed configuration. As shown, the canister is substantially cylindrical. However, the canister 20 could assume another shape, e.g., cubic. The cavity 147A/147B could be cylindrical or another shape as well. FIG. 4B illustrates the canister 20 shown in an open configuration wherein various items such as a cigarette 500 and a dollar bill 600 can be stored within the canister 20. It is to be understood that the canister 20 could be used to store various other items or may be empty.
It is to be understood that the present invention can be used for cue sticks for any cue sports including any type of pocket pool, carom billiards and snooker, for example.
While this invention has been described in conjunction with the various exemplary embodiments outlined above, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiments of the invention, as set forth above, are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Patent Application
20180043239
