Tubular exercise member having a wooden layer and a method for making the same

Abstract

A billiard cue includes a core made of foam material and a mediate layer wrapped around the core. The mediate layer includes fiber strips and wooden plates soaked with epoxide resin. A wooden layer is wrapped around the mediate layer. The cue is heated and pressurized by suitable molds to let the fiber strips and wooden plates be securely combined with each other. The foam core absorbs shocks and the wooden plates remain features of wooden billiard cues.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a tubular exercise member such as a billiard cue which has a core made of foam material with resin strip wrapped around and a wooden layer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Because wooden billiard cue is affected by the temperature and the humidity so that manufacturers developed the latest billiard cue made of fiber or compound material. However, such billiard cues are expensive and the lack of the feel when impacting the balls. Another conventional billiard cue is developed and shown in FIG. 6 and generally includes a wooden core 50 with epoxide resin spread on the wooden core 50 and fiber strips soaked with resin are wrapped around the wooden core 50 according to a predetermined angle. Pressure is applied to the fiber strips and heat the fiber strips to securely combine the resin and the strips. Therefore, the billiard cue has a solidified fiber layer 60 which maintains the wooden core 50 from deformation. Nevertheless, the billiard cue with a fiber layer requires to proceed a grinding process to smooth the outer surface of the fiber layer or even print patterns on the fiber layer.

[0003] The present invention intends to provide a billiard cue which has a wooden layer and a foam core so that it is light in weight and maintains the nature of wooden billiard cue.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a billiard cue which includes a core made of foam material and a mediate layer wrapped around the core. The mediate layer includes fiber strips and wooden plates soaked with epoxide resin. A wooden layer is wrapped around the mediate layer. The cue is heated and pressurized by suitable molds to let the fiber strips and wooden plates be securely combined with each other.

[0005] The primary object of the present invention is to provide a billiard cue and a method for made the cue, wherein the billiard cue is light in weight and absorbs shocks and the wooden feature is remained.

[0006] These and further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, several embodiments in accordance with the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective view to show a billiard cue of the present invention;

[0008] FIG. 2A is a perspective view to show the structure of the billiard cue of the present invention;

[0009] FIG. 2B is an exploded view to show another embodiment of the structure of the billiard cue of the present invention;

[0010] FIG. 3 is a flow chart to illustrate the steps of the method for making the billiard cue of the present invention;

[0011] FIG. 4 is a perspective view to show a metal core is to be wrapped by a mediate plate and a wooden layer;

[0012] FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view to show the billiard cue of the present invention, and

[0013] FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view to show a conventional billiard cue.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0014] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2A, the billiard cue of the present invention comprises a shaft 100 with a tip 101 and a butt 102 on two ends of the shaft 100 respectively. The shaft 100 includes a core 10 made of foam material, a mediate layer 20 wrapped around the core 10 and a wooden layer 30 wrapped around the mediate layer 20. The mediate layer 20 includes fiber strips 21 and wooden plates 22 which are connected to the fiber strips 21 by resin and both of which are wrapped on the core 10 alternatively at a desired angle. The wooden layer 30 includes wooden plates 220 soaked by resin and securely wraps around the mediate layer 20. The foam core 10 reduces the weight of the billiard cue and absorbs shocks when impacting the balls. The wooden plates 220 remain the nature of the wooden billiard cue. FIG. 2B shows that the wooden layer is a one-piece wooden tubular member 300 which has a passage defined longitudinally therein so that the core 10 together with the mediate layer 20 is securely received in the passage of the wooden tubular member 300.

[0015] Referring to FIG. 3, the method for manufacturing the billiard cue comprises the following steps:

[0016] step 1: To prepare a core 40 made of stiff material such as metal.

[0017] step 2: To prepare fiber strips 21 and first wooden plates 22 which are both soaked in resin. Wrap the fiber strips 21 and the first wooden plates 22 onto the core 40 as shown in FIG. 4 to form a mediate layer 20 on the core 40. The fiber strips 21 and the first wooden plates 22 are alternatively wrapped on the core 40 at a desired angle.

[0018] step 3: To wrap second wooden plates 220 soaked with resin onto the mediate layer 20 to form a wooden layer 30;

[0019] step 4: To apply pressure onto the wooden layer 30. The way to apply pressure can be proceeded by wrap a plastic bag on the wooden layer 30 and vacuum the plastic bag to le the plastic bag be compressed by the atmosphere. The pressure may also generated by a mold in which the result product in step 3 is put. Yet another way to proceed the pressure is to securely wrap OPP or PVC strips on the wooden layer 30.

[0020] step 5: To put the billiard cue in step 4 in a oven at 100 to 180 degrees Celsius to solidify the resin to combine the fiber strips 21 and the wooden plates 22, 220.

[0021] step 6: To cool down the cue after being treated in step 5 and remove the core 40 to form a recess.

[0022] step 7: To put foam material in the recess to have a foam core 10 as shown in FIG. 5.

[0023] step 8: To grind and polish the wooden layer 30.

[0024] The foam core 10 reduces the weight of the billiard cue and may absorb shocks when the billiard cue impacts balls. The wooden layer 30 provide the same touch as the wooden cue.

[0025] While we have shown and described the billiard cue in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments such as gold clubs, bows, fishing rods, croquet mallets, baseball bats, hockey sticks, tennis rackets, badminton rackets, or bicycle frames may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

Claims

1. A billiard cue comprising a shaft with a tip and a butt, the shaft comprising:

a core made of foam material;

a mediate layer wrapped around said core and comprising fiber strips and wooden plates, and a wooden layer wrapped around said mediate layer.

2. The billiard cue as claimed in claim 1 wherein the wooden layer includes a plurality of wooden plates which are wrapped onto said mediate layer.

3. The billiard cue as claimed in claim 1 wherein the wooden layer is a wooden tubular member which has a passage defined longitudinally therein, said core together with said mediate layer being received in said passage in said wooden tubular member.

4. A method for manufacturing a billiard cue comprising the following steps:

step 1: to prepare a core made of stiff material;

step 2: to prepare fiber strips soaked with resin, wrapping said fiber strips onto said core to form a mediate layer on said core;

step 3: to wrap wooden plates soaked with resin onto said mediate layer to form a wooden layer;

step 4: to apply pressure onto said wooden layer;

step 5: to heat said billiard cue in step 4 to solidify said resin to combine said fiber strips and said wooden plates;

step 6: to cool down said cue after being treated in step 5 and remove said core to form a recess, and step 7: to put foam material in said recess.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein said core in step 1 is a metal rod.

6. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein said fiber layer in step 2 includes wooden plates and fiber strips which are alternatively wrapped onto said core.

7. The method as claimed in claim 4 further comprising a step 8 to grind and polish said wooden layer.