GB2171919A

GB2171919A - Billiard or snooker cue holder or extension

Info

Publication number: GB2171919A
Application number: GB08605477A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kenneth Mercer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-03-08
Filing date: 1986-03-05
Publication date: 1986-09-10
Also published as: GB8506136D0; GB8605477D0; GB2171919B

Abstract

A billiard or snooker cue holder or extension, comprising a tubular sleeve (2) fitted with an extension butt (1) at one end and at its other end slotted lengthwise to enable it to accommodate a cue butt (5), and surrounded by another tubular sleeve (3) to compress the slotted part into engagement with a cue placed within it. The first sleeve (2) may be made of rigid or semi-rigid plastic and the second one (3) of a rubbery or elastic material. The slots (6) may extend completely or almost to the end of the inner sleeve, and the slotted section may be made narrower in diameter than the main portions so as to form a constricted zone to help grip the cue butt, especially with the aid of the elastic outer sleeve. A concave recess (4) in the end of the extension butt, within the sleeve, helps to hold the cue more firmly. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Holder for billiard cue This invention relates to improved holders for cues, for use in playing billiards, snooker or similar games.

When a cue is used in playing billiards, snooker or similar games, the player often wishes to extend the length of the cue in order to play difficult shots for which the ordinary cue cannot reach far enough.

Several holders or "extensions" have been proposed for this purpose, but I find that they are not entirely satisfactory because they do not hold the cue-securely enough to keep it steady and free from troublesome flexing in use.

I have now found that the problem can be solved very simply by a new form of construction as follows.

According to my invention I provide an improved billiard or snooker cue holder or extension which comprises: (a) An extension butt or holder; (b) A first tubular sleeve which at one end surrounds and grips the extension butt (a) and at the other end is slotted lengthwise so as to enable it to accommodate the butt of a cue; and (c) A second tubular sleeve which surrounds the first tubular sleeve (b) and is elastic enough to compress the slotted end of the sleeve (b) and force it into engagement with a cue butt placed within it.

The extension butt (a) may be made of conventional material. The most convenient material is wood, but other materials may be used if desired.

The size and shape of the extension butt may vary according to the wishes of the user, but a convenient size is about 380 to 500 mm. in length and about 29 to 33 mm. diameter. The cross section may be any which is convenient for the user to grip may be used, though a substantially circular cross section is usually preferred. The butt extension may be finished as desired, for example by polishing, varnishing, or the like.

As a preferred feature, which helps to centre and stabilise the cue butt when it is inserted in place within the first sleeve (b), there is also a recess in the end of the extension butt within the first sleeve. This is preferably concave in shape (for example curved or conical) and of a size which can accommodate the cue butt end, for example by extending over most or all of the end of the butt extension within the sleeve.

This recess may be omitted if desired, but for maximum stabilisation of the cue it is strongly preferred and most advantageous.

The first tubular sleeve (b) may be made of any material which will give the assembly the desired rigidity in use. Most conveniently it may be a tube made of a so-called "rigid" or "semi-rigid" plastic, for example the grades of hard or tough plastic tubing which are available commercially for use as waste pipe, or the like. These are, for example, made of the socalled "rigid PVC" or materials of similar properties, for example polypropylene. The dimensions ofthe sleeve should be such as to provide a good grip on the butt extension (a). The size should preferably be chosen to provide the desired tight fit on the butt extension, and for example tubing of about 28 to 32 mm. inside diameter may be used.

The second tubular sleeve (c) may be made of any resilient material and of any size which allows a suitably tight fit over the inner first sleeve (b). It may be made of a rubbery or elastic material, for example commercially available rubber tubing. The thickness of the sleeve material will depend upon the elasticity of the material chosen, but should be enough to stretch enough to allow a cue butt to be inserted reasonably easily within the inner first sleeve (a) and then give a good inward grip on it and the cue butt within it. A thickness of about 1 to 2 mm. is usually enough.

The first sleeve (b) has slots in it, extending lengthwise at the end remote from the end in which the butt extension is inserted. These slots should be wide enough to allow the sections of the sleeve between the slots to move inwards and outwards due to the slight resilience of the sleeve material.

This movement is to allow the cue butt to be inserted within the slotted end of the inner first sleeve and for the resilient or elastic outer second sleeve (c) to squeeze it on to the cue butt and secure a good grip on it. Most cue butts taper, and the slotted end of the first sleeve (b) should be able to expand enough to admit the wider end of the cue butt and then close to grip the narrower part of the butt as the cue is pushed further in.

The slots may extend completely to the end of the sleeve (b) or they may extend almost to the end but still leave an unslotted portion at the extreme end of the sleeve (b).

In this latter form, the grip of the sleeve (b) on a cue butt inserted within it may be achieved in various ways. One way is to rely, as in the form which is slotted completely at its remote end, on the compression exerted by the ou'ter sleeve (c) to squeeze the slotted section onto the cue butt and secure a good grip on it. An alternative way is to shape the slotted section so that it is of narrower diameter than the main portions of the sleeve (b), so providing a constricted zone which can be expanded outwards as necessary by the insertion of the cue butt, and so grip the cue butt; this grip can be reinforced by the outer sleeve (c) pressing inwards.

The shaping can be achieved by appropriate softening of material of the slotted portion, giving it the desired shape (for example on a former) and then re-hardening it again. The shaping in this way is eased by making the slots of sufficient width to allow the material of the sleeve in the constricted zone to be moved together and take up space left by the width of the slots.

The slots may be formed by any convenient method. Most conveniently, they may be formed by cutting the material of the sleeve for a distance along the length of the sleeve, but alternative methods may be used if desired. The slots are most conveniently formed to lie substantially along the axis of the sleeve, but may be at an angle if desired. The amount of material cut out in forming a slot may vary, so long as the resulting sections between the slots remain free to move inwards and outwards without undue hindrance when in use.

The methods for assembling the parts may vary according to the particular materials used. A preferred method is to soften the inner sleeve (b), for example by warming itto a temperature at which it becomes suitably stretchable, so that it is possible to fit it over one end of the extension butt (a). For this, the sleeve (b) should have an internal diameter which is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the butt extension on to which it is to fit. This can be done for example by immersing lengths of "rigid PVC" tubing or the like in hot water, and then fitting the softened tubing over the butt extension and finally allowing the tubing to cool and harden in place, so gripping the butt extension firmly.

The invention is illustrated but not limited by the accompanying drawings, which are schematic and not drawn to scale. In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a lenghtwise sectional view of an assembly according to the present invention, and Figure 2 represents a more detailed view in perspective of the inner sleeve component which is part of the assembly as shown in Figure 1.

In Figure la a butt extension (1) is fitted inside the un-slotted end of a tubular sleeve (2) having longitudinal slots (not shown) at the other end. Around the sleeve (2) is fitted a second sleeve (3) made of resilient elastic material, which-surrounds the inner sleeve (2) throughout its length and also extends over the un-slotted end and on to partofthe butt extension (1). This extension of the-outer sleeve over the end of the inner sleeve is not essential for the function of the invention, but does help to smooth the junction between the extension butt surface and the sleeve, and minimise any uncomfortable roughness or other surface effectwhich could be unpleasant in use.

In the end of the butt extension (1), within the first sleeve (2), there is a recess (4) to receive the end of a cue butt (5) when this is inserted within the sleeve (2).

In Figure 2, the sleeve component (2) of Figure 1 is represented by the tubular sleeve (7) with several longitudinal slots-(6) as indicated. Three such slots are shown; this number is satisfactorily efficient and most convenient, but a smaller or larger number than three may be used if desired. It is also convenient for the slots to be substantially equal in size and substantially equally spaced apart, though this is not essential and the spacing and size may be varied if desired.

The slots (6) extend approximately one third of the length of the sleeve (7) [sleeve (2) in Figure 1]. The butt extension similarly extends within the sleeve (2) for approximately one third of its length at the other end, so leaving about one third of the sleeve (2), at its centre, unslotted and empty; this addsto the rigidity of the assembly without adding unduly to the weight of the assembly when in use. These specific proportions indicated are onlyto be taken as being approximate and convenient, and may be varied, and the invention is not necessarily limited to any precise proportions in the final assembly.

In use, the cue butt (5) is pushed into the open end of the sleeve (2) of the butt extension assembly, until it stops against the end of the butt extension (1 ) and is in contact with the concave recess (4) which, by virtue of its shape, will accommodate and locate even the narrowest of cue butts when inserted. The cue will be gripped on the tapered section of its butt by the closing effect of the open end of the extension [i.e. sleeve (2)]. This is brought about by the contraction ofthe elastic outer sleeve (3) making it grip the slotted end of the sleeve, closing the slots (6) on to the cue butt and gripping the cue along the length inserted into the extension.

Claims

1. A billiard or snooker cue holder or extension which comprises: (a) An extension butt or holder; (b) A first tubular sleeve which at one end surrounds and grips the extension butt (a) and at the other end is slotted lengthwise so as to enable it to accommodate the butt of a cue; and (c) A second tubular sleeve which surrounds the first tubular sleeve (b) and is elastic-enough to compress the slotted end of the sleeve (b) and force it into engagement with a cue butt placed within it.

2. A billiard or snooker cue holder or extension as claimed in Claim 1, wherein there is also a recess in the end of the extension butt within the first sleeve, which helps to centre and stabilise the cue butt when it is inserted in place within the first sleeve.

3. A billiard or snooker cue holder or extension as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the recess in the end of the extension butt is concave in shape.

4. A billiard or snooker cue holder or extension as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the first tubular sleeve (a) is made of rigid or semi-rigid plastics material.

4. A billiard or snooker cue holder or extension as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the second tubular sleeve (c) is made of a rubbery or elastic material.

5. A billiard or snooker cue holder or extension as claimed in ay preseding claim, wherein the slots.

extend completely to the end of the sleeve (b).

6. A billiard or snooker cue holder or extension as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the slots extend almost two the end but still leave an unsiotted potion at the extreme end of the sleeve (b).

7. A billiard or snooker cue holder or extension as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the slotted section is shaped so that it is of narrower diameter than the main portions of the sleeve (b), so providing a constricted zone which can be expanded outwards as necessary by the insertion of the cue butt, and so grip the cue butt.

8. A billiard or snooker cue holder or extension substantially as hereinbefore described with refer ence to the accompanying drawings.