GB2162074A - Snooker etc. training aid - Google Patents

Abstract

A training aid for playing snooker and the like comprises a first grip portion 1 for gripping in one hand and a cue supporting portion 2 for supporting a cue held in the other hand, the cue supporting portion being rotatably mounted on the grip portion by means of a circular peg 20 which locates within a corresponding circular recess 9 on the grip portion. The two portions are held together by a screw 24 which passes through the grip portion and locates within the peg of the cue supporting portion. The latter has a cue supporting surface 21, and the aid may be held in either the left or the right hand. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Training aid The present invention relates to a training aid for use in playing a game, particularly a game in which a cue is used to strike a ball on a table, such as snooker, billiards, pool and the like.

In games such as snooker, each player must use a cue to strike a ball on the table, and the conventional way of achieving this is to form a bridge with the hand on which the cue is supported, and aligning the cue with the ball to be struck by altering the position of the hand on the table. Many people however find it difficult to achieve this bridge with the hand, especially when learning the game, and therefore it would be useful to be able to achieve the same effect of supporting the cue without having to form a bridge with the hand.

According to the present invention there is provided a training aid for supporting a cue, said training aid comprising a grip portion for holding in either the left or right hand of a player, and a cue supporting portion extending upwardly from said grip portion so that, in use, the cue supporting portion extends above the appropriate hand of the player.

Preferably the cue supporting portion is rotatably mounted on the grip portion in such a way that it is rotable about an axis passing through both portions.

Preferably the axis is vertical.

Preferably the cue supporting portion is rotatably mounted on the grip portion by means of a cylindrical peg extending downwardly from a lower surface of the cue supporting portion, said peg fitting within a corresponding cylindrical recess in an upper surface of said grip portion, and being rotatably fixed therein by a screw passing through a threaded bore extending between said upper and lower surfaces and engaging in the centre of the peg.

Preferably the head of the screw fits within a cylindrical recess in the lower surface of the grip portion, so that it does not protrude beyond said lower surface.

Preferably the grip portion and the cue supporting portion are made of moulded plastics material.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side view of an aid in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the aid shown in Figure 1, omitting interior details; and Figure 3 is a perspective view of the aid shown in Figures 1 and 2 being used to support a cue.

With reference to Figures 1,2 and 3, an aid according to the present invention comprises a first grip portion 1 and a second cue supporting portion 2. The grip portion 1 comprises a substantially horizontal extension 3 for gripping in the hand of a player, and a second substantially horizontal extension 5. The extension 5 has located at its center a tapering threaded bore 7. The bore opens out at each end to provide circular recesses 9 and 10. The extensions 3 and 5 are joined together in a continuous piece by two curved surfaces 13 and 15, and at the upper end of surface 15 there is a wall 17 protruding above the extension 5, the wall 17 having an inclined face 17a. The second section 2 comprises a substantially U-shaped member 18 having at its lower end a circular peg 20.The inside surface 21 of the U-shaped member provides a cue supporting surface, and the centre of the circular peg 20 accommodates a tapering threaded bore 22 which is aligned with a conical recess 23 directly above the bore 22.

The cue supporting portion 2 is rotatably mounted on the grip portion 1 as shown by locating the circular peg 20 within the recess 9. In this position, the bores 22 and 7 are vertically aligned, and a screw 24 passed through the two bores 7 and 22 fixes the cue supporting portion to the grip portion, whilst allowing it to rotate about the longitudinal axis of the bores 7 and 22.

The head 24a of the screw fits snugly into the recess 10 so that it does not protrude beyond the lower edge of member 5.

In use the extension 3 of the grip portion 1 is gripped in one hand, the thumb being positioned underneath the surface 13 of the grip portion. The cue 25, which is held in the other hand, is then supported by the cue supporting portion 2 so that it rests on the cue supporting surface 21. In this way, the direction of the cue may be altered by simply rotating the cue which causes the cue supporting portion 2 also to rotate.

Due to the symmetrical nature of the aid, it may be used in either the left hand or the right hand according to the preference of the person.

1. A training aid for supporting a cue, comprising a grip portion for holding in either the left or right hand of a player, and a cue supporting portion extending upwardly from said grip portion so that, in use, the cue supporting portion extends above the appropriate hand of the player.

2. A training aid according to Claim 1 in which the cue supporting portion is rotatably mounted on the grip portion in such a way that it is rotatable about an axis passing through both portions.

3. A training aid according to Claim 2 in which the axis is vertical.

4. A training aid according to Claim 2 or Claim 3 in which the cue supporting portion is rotatably mounted on the grip portion by means of a cylindrical peg extending downwardly from a lower surface of the cue supporting portion, said peg fitting within a corresponding cylindrical recess in an upper surface of said grip portion, and being rotatably fixed therein by a screw passing through a threaded bore extending between said upper and lower surfaces and engaging in the centre of the peg.

5. A training aid according to Claim 4 in which the head of the screw fits within a cylindrical recess in the lower surface of the grip portion, so that it does not protrude beyond said lower surface.

6. A training aid according to any of the preceding

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (8)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Training aid The present invention relates to a training aid for use in playing a game, particularly a game in which a cue is used to strike a ball on a table, such as snooker, billiards, pool and the like. In games such as snooker, each player must use a cue to strike a ball on the table, and the conventional way of achieving this is to form a bridge with the hand on which the cue is supported, and aligning the cue with the ball to be struck by altering the position of the hand on the table. Many people however find it difficult to achieve this bridge with the hand, especially when learning the game, and therefore it would be useful to be able to achieve the same effect of supporting the cue without having to form a bridge with the hand. According to the present invention there is provided a training aid for supporting a cue, said training aid comprising a grip portion for holding in either the left or right hand of a player, and a cue supporting portion extending upwardly from said grip portion so that, in use, the cue supporting portion extends above the appropriate hand of the player. Preferably the cue supporting portion is rotatably mounted on the grip portion in such a way that it is rotable about an axis passing through both portions. Preferably the axis is vertical. Preferably the cue supporting portion is rotatably mounted on the grip portion by means of a cylindrical peg extending downwardly from a lower surface of the cue supporting portion, said peg fitting within a corresponding cylindrical recess in an upper surface of said grip portion, and being rotatably fixed therein by a screw passing through a threaded bore extending between said upper and lower surfaces and engaging in the centre of the peg. Preferably the head of the screw fits within a cylindrical recess in the lower surface of the grip portion, so that it does not protrude beyond said lower surface. Preferably the grip portion and the cue supporting portion are made of moulded plastics material. An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side view of an aid in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the aid shown in Figure 1, omitting interior details; and Figure 3 is a perspective view of the aid shown in Figures 1 and 2 being used to support a cue. With reference to Figures 1,2 and 3, an aid according to the present invention comprises a first grip portion 1 and a second cue supporting portion 2. The grip portion 1 comprises a substantially horizontal extension 3 for gripping in the hand of a player, and a second substantially horizontal extension 5. The extension 5 has located at its center a tapering threaded bore 7. The bore opens out at each end to provide circular recesses 9 and 10. The extensions 3 and 5 are joined together in a continuous piece by two curved surfaces 13 and 15, and at the upper end of surface 15 there is a wall 17 protruding above the extension 5, the wall 17 having an inclined face 17a. The second section 2 comprises a substantially U-shaped member 18 having at its lower end a circular peg 20.The inside surface 21 of the U-shaped member provides a cue supporting surface, and the centre of the circular peg 20 accommodates a tapering threaded bore 22 which is aligned with a conical recess 23 directly above the bore 22. The cue supporting portion 2 is rotatably mounted on the grip portion 1 as shown by locating the circular peg 20 within the recess 9. In this position, the bores 22 and 7 are vertically aligned, and a screw 24 passed through the two bores 7 and 22 fixes the cue supporting portion to the grip portion, whilst allowing it to rotate about the longitudinal axis of the bores 7 and 22. The head 24a of the screw fits snugly into the recess 10 so that it does not protrude beyond the lower edge of member 5. In use the extension 3 of the grip portion 1 is gripped in one hand, the thumb being positioned underneath the surface 13 of the grip portion. The cue 25, which is held in the other hand, is then supported by the cue supporting portion 2 so that it rests on the cue supporting surface 21. In this way, the direction of the cue may be altered by simply rotating the cue which causes the cue supporting portion 2 also to rotate. Due to the symmetrical nature of the aid, it may be used in either the left hand or the right hand according to the preference of the person. CLAIMS

1. A training aid for supporting a cue, comprising a grip portion for holding in either the left or right hand of a player, and a cue supporting portion extending upwardly from said grip portion so that, in use, the cue supporting portion extends above the appropriate hand of the player.

2. A training aid according to Claim 1 in which the cue supporting portion is rotatably mounted on the grip portion in such a way that it is rotatable about an axis passing through both portions.

3. A training aid according to Claim 2 in which the axis is vertical.

4. A training aid according to Claim 2 or Claim 3 in which the cue supporting portion is rotatably mounted on the grip portion by means of a cylindrical peg extending downwardly from a lower surface of the cue supporting portion, said peg fitting within a corresponding cylindrical recess in an upper surface of said grip portion, and being rotatably fixed therein by a screw passing through a threaded bore extending between said upper and lower surfaces and engaging in the centre of the peg.

5. A training aid according to Claim 4 in which the head of the screw fits within a cylindrical recess in the lower surface of the grip portion, so that it does not protrude beyond said lower surface.

6. A training aid according to any of the preceding Claims in which the cue supporting portion and the grip portion are made of moulded plastics material.

7. A training aid according to Claim 1 and substantially as herein described.

8. A training aid substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.