The present invention relates to billiards cue assist devices. The device acts as a substitute for using ones hand as the bridge to guide a cue stick in striking billiards balls. The device can be used to provide assistance to those with arthritis and similar ailments, to assist those learning the sport, and to enhance accuracy.
In the games of billiards, pool, snooker, and similar “cue sports”, a player will typically use one hand to hold the cue stick near its weightier aft; this hand provides the forward thrusting motion for hitting the billiard ball(s). The other hand is placed in stationary position, typically on the table, and acts as a “bridge”; this hand controls and directs the cue stick.
A problem with the conventional methods of using ones hand as a bridge is that ones fingers, sweat, skin, and knuckles provide a non-consistent, and potentially adherent, surface for sliding the cue stick against. Additionally, arthritis and other disorders may prevent a player from being able to articulate their fingers into suitable positions for acting as a bridge.
The subject handheld billiards bridge provides a low friction and convenient to use alternative to the finger bridge and other mechanical bridges. In particular, the convex interior surfaces of the guides allow a full range of direction for the cue stick and provide the ideal amount of friction while accurately directing the cue stick.
The subject device is unique in that it provides a plurality of low friction positions for placing and sliding the cue stick.
There are several billiards and pool guides and bridges. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 570,459, 635,569, 1,482,962, 1,604,023, 3,563,543, 3,851,876, 4,147,346, 4,634,123, 5,141,225, 5,238,457, 5,554,075, and 5,853,333 are illustrative of prior art.
Mirowski (U.S. Pat. No. 4,629,187) discloses a pool stick guide with one hole for the cue stick and another elongated hole for the user's fingers. It is “held between the fingers and thumb” and provides a limited range of positions of methods of use. Mirowski discloses a device held in a limited position.
Buckhault (Application Pub. No. US 2015/0297977 A1) discloses a handheld pool stick guide tray.
None of the prior art discloses an invention with convex surfaces against which the pool cue slides, a plurality of easy to use guide channels, a four fingered body, or adequate features for providing “English” or spin upon the cue balls. The subject handheld bridge device unlike any prior art recognizes the necessity of: a plurality of guide locations, combined with convexed surfaces against which the cue stick is placed and slid, and an ergonomic form which is particularly helpful for arthritic players. In these respects, the handheld bridge substantially departs from the prior designs and patents.
The following descriptions pertain to the accompanying drawings to help explain the invention's application and advantages. The use of nylon, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, and acrylic polyvinyl chloride plastics are typical, if not ideal, materials.
An exemplary embodiment of the device, being a handheld billiards bridge, is illustrated by
In the exemplary embodiment, as illustrated in
In the exemplary embodiment and method of use, the user of the device places his or her fingers into the apertures 14 in the manner of “brass knuckles” and slides a billiards cue stick through one of the guides to strike the target billiards ball. The bottom edge of the member body is ideally slightly concave 20 and thus in the elevation view of the device,
As best illustrated by
In some embodiments, shown in
As noted, the exemplary embodiment of the member is nylon or other thermoplastic, however, the body member may be comprised of wood, metal, and other common materials. Other embodiments may use rubber or other polymers to add flexibility to the body member.
In some embodiments, the device may have additional fully circular guides adjacent to the four apertures. Such circular guides may be affixed to the member body rubberized or other fasteners, allowing for limited movement, for among other things, applying English to certain pool shots. The rubberized fasteners, along with a convex lower surface in the circular guide allow limited expansion to provide resistance for the cue stick. Other means and materials adding circular guides may be used.
With respect to the above descriptions and Figures, it is noted that the device may consist of a variety of materials and can be built to a range of dimensional specifications, including as to size, weight, and proportions of features, and all such variations are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. It is also believed to be understandable by those skilled in the art that while one embodiment of the invention is described herein, other embodiments and modifications of the one described are possible within the scope of the invention which is limited only by the attached claims.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
570459 | Cronin | Nov 1896 | A |
774621 | Van Setres | Nov 1904 | A |
4149718 | Russo | Apr 1979 | A |
4210325 | McCann | Jul 1980 | A |
4629187 | Mirowski | Dec 1986 | A |
7611416 | Mattina | Nov 2009 | B1 |
20160296831 | Bartolomucci | Oct 2016 | A1 |