GB2347633A

GB2347633A - Segmented billiard cue.

Info

Publication number: GB2347633A
Application number: GB9905377A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kuo-Pin Yu
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-03-08
Filing date: 1999-03-10
Publication date: 2000-09-13
Also published as: FR2792214B3; DE29904165U1; FR2792214A3; GB9905377D0

Abstract

A billiard cue is formed from at least two segments. One of these segments is formed of a wooden material 54 the other segment(s) being formed of a fibre reinforced plastic material 56, 58 with a hollow core. The plastic used may be either thermosetting or thermoplastic or one segment may be formed with thermosetting plastic while another is formed of thermosetting plastic. The hollow core may be filled with a foam material (64, Fig. 8).

Description

IMPROVEMENT ON BILLIARD CUE FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to a billiard cue, and more particularly to a billiard cue having a rod body which is made of a fiberreinforced plastic material and is covered with a wooden layer. The term "billiard cue"as used herein is intended also to include snooker cues and pool cues.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The conventional billiard cue is made of a wooden material and is therefore vulnerable to curvature due to the climatic factors and the ageing of the wooden material. In addition, such conventional billiard cue as described above is devoid of sufficient toughness to render a strong impact force for moving the cue ball to hit the object balls effectively. Moreover, the conventional billiard cue is ineffective in absorbing the shock wave that is generated at the time when the billiard cue hits the cue ball.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is the primary objective of the present invention to provide an improved billiard cue with the physical property of a wooden material, without the drawback of deformation caused by ageing of the wooden material.

It is another objective of the present invention to provide an improved billiard cue which is made of a relatively less amount of the wooden material.

It is still another objective of the present invention to provide an improved billiard cue which is versatile in appearance.

It is still another objective of the present invention to provide an improved billiard cue having a shock-absorbing capability.

In keeping with the principle of the present invention, the foregoing objectives of the present invention are attained by a billiard cue having a tapered main body which comprises at least two segments connected end to end. One of the two segments is made of a wooden material, whereas other one of the two segments is made of a fiberreinforced plastic material. The billiard cue is thus less vulnerable to curvature and deformation, and is provided with the physical property and the sense of touch of a wooden material. In addition, the billiard cue of the present invention is made of a relatively less amount of the wooden material.

The segment which is made of the fiber-reinforced plastic material is provided in the interior thereof with a plastic foam material capable of absorbing shock.

The foregoing objectives, features, functions, and advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood upon a thoughtful deliberation of the following detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows a front view of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a sectional view taken along the direction indicated by a line 2-2 as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a sectional view taken along the direction indicated by a line 3-3 as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 shows a front view of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows a front view of a third preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows a front view of a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows a front view of a fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 shows a sectional schematic view of a sixth preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION As shown in FIGS. 1-3, a billiard cue 10 of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention has a rod body 12 which is formed of a first segment 14 and a second segment 16 connected with the first segment 14 end to end. The first segment 14 is made of a wooden material and is provided at the small diametrical end thereof with a tip 13 for hitting the cue ball. The second segment 16 is made of a thermoplastic fiber-reinforced plastic material and is provided at the large diametrical end thereof with a bumper 18. In the process of making the second segment 16, a preformed second segment 16 is formed of a plurality of layers of nylon multifilament binding yarn commingled with carbon fiber binding yarn. The preformed second segment 16 is heated under pressure in a molding tool for a predetermined period of time and is then cooled to the room temperature so as to allow the preformed second segment to harden to become the second segment 16, which is provided with a hollow interior 161 extending along the direction of the longitudinal axis of the second segment 16, as shown in FIG. 3. The first and the second segments 14 and 16 are connected fixedly or detachably by a connection structure 2, which is not the subject matter of the present invention.

Now referring to FIG. 4, a billiard cue 20 of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown to have a rod body 22 which is formed of a first segment 24 and a second segment 26 connected with the first segment 24 end to end by the connection structure 2. The first segment 24 is made of a wooden material, whereas the second segment 26 is made of a thermosetting fiber-reinforced plastic material. In the process of making the second segment 26, a preformed second segment is formed of a plurality of carbon fiber fabric plates impregnated with epoxy resin. The preformed second segment is heated under pressure for a predetermined period of time in a molding tool having a shape of the second segment 26. The preformed second segment is then cooled to harden to take form of the second segment 26. The first segment 24 is provided at the free end thereof with a tip 13, whereas the second segment 26 is provided at the free end thereof with a bumper 18.

The third and the fourth preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown respectively in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, with the former 30 having a rod body 32, and with the latter having a rod body 42. The rod body 32 comprises a second segment 36 of a wooden material, whereas the rod body 42 comprises a second segment 46 of a wooden material. The rod body 32 comprises a first segment 34 made of a thermoplastic or thermosetting fiber-reinforced plastic material. The rod body 42 comprises a first segment 44 made of a thermoplastic or thermosetting fiber-reinforced plastic material. The rod bodies 32 and 42 are of a tapered construction.

As shown in FIG. 7, a billiard cue 50 of the fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention is composed of the three segments connected end to end. A first segment 54 is made of a wooden material. A second segment 56 is made of a thermoplastic fiber-reinforced plastic material. A third segment 58 is made of a thermosetting fiber-reinforced plastic material. These three segments 54,56 and 58 form a small diametrical segment, an intermediate diametrical segment, and a large diametrical segment of the billiard cue 50.

As shown in FIG. 8, a billiard cue 60 of the sixth preferred embodiment of the present invention is unique in design in that it has a rod body 62 which is made of a fiber-reinforced plastic material and is provided in a hollow interior 621 thereof with a core 64 made of a polyurethane (PU) foam material capable of absorbing shock.

The embodiments of the present invention described above are to be regarded in all respects as being merely illustrative and not restrictive.

Accordingly, the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without deviating from the spirit thereof. The present invention is therefore to be limited only by the scopes of the following appended claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A billiard cue having a tapered rod body which is composed of a first segment and a second segment connected with said first segment end to end, said first segment being made of a wooden material, said second segment being made of a fiber-reinforced plastic material and provided with a hollow interior extending along the direction of a longitudinal axis of said second segment.

2. The billiard cue as defined in claim 1, wherein said second segment is made of a thermoplastic fiber-reinforced plastic material.

3. The billiard cue as defined in claim 1, wherein said second segment is made of a thermosetting fiber-reinforced plastic material.

4. The billiard cue as defined in claim 1, wherein said hollow interior of said second segment is filled with a core made of a foam material.

5. A billiard cue having a tapered rod body which is composed of : a first segment made of a wooden material; a second segment made of a thermoplastic fiber-reinforced plastic material and provided with a hollow interior extending along the direction of a longitudinal axis of said second segment; and a third segment made of a thermosetting fiber-reinforced plastic material and provided with a hollow interior extending along the direction of a longitudinal axis of said third segment.

6. The billiard cue as defined in claim 5, wherein said hollow interior of said second segment or said third segment is filled with a core made of a foam material.

7. A billiard cue having a tapered rod body which is composed of : a first segment made of a wooden material; a second segment made of a thermosetting fiber-reinforced plastic material and provided with a hollow interior extending along the direction of a longitudinal axis of said second segment; and a third segment made of a thermoplastic fiber-reinforced plastic material and provided with a hollow interior extending along the direction of a longitudinal axis of said third segment.

8. The billiard cue as defined in claim 7, wherein said hollow interior of said second segment or said third segment is filled with a core made of a foam material.

9. A billiard cue having a tapered rod body which is composed of: a first segment made of a thermosetting fiber-reinforced plastic material and provided with a hollow interior extending along the direction of a longitudinal axis of said first segment; a second segment made of a wooden material; and a third segment made of a thermoplastic fiber-reinforced plastic material and provided with a hollow interior extending along the direction of a longitudinal axis of said third segment.

10. The billiard cue as defined in claim 9, wherein said hollow interior of said first segment or said third segment is filled with a core made of a foam material.

11. A billiard cue having a tapered rod body which is composed of : a first segment made of a thermoplastic fiber-reinforced plastic material and provided with a hollow interior extending along the direction of a longitudinal axis of said first segment; a second segment made of a wooden material; and a third segment made of a thermoplastic fiber-reinforced plastic material and provided with a hollow interior extending along the direction of a longitudinal axis of said third segment.

12. The billiard cue as defined in claim 11, wherein said hollow interior of said first segment or said third segment is filled with a core made of a foam material.

13. A billiard cue substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 3, or Figure 4, or Figure 5, or Figure 6, or Figure 7 or Figure 8 of the drawings.