Article of manufacture for improved segmented jump cue stick
A jump cue stick for use in the game of billiards having a first and second hollow shaft members that are releasably connected and very light weight, the jump cue stick does not employ a conventional wood handle or wood shaft but has a carbon/graphite handle end and a carbon/graphite shaft. The jump cue stick of present invention has one embodiment for causing a struck cue ball to be jumped over a obstructing ball and having an overall total weight of less than one half of a conventional jump cue stick and by elevating the handle end of the jump cue to an appropriate height, which is higher than if a conventional jump cue were used, and striking the cue ball at an appropriate angle with an appropriate amount of force enabling the player to facilitate the ball-jumping effect from a much closer distance to the blocking balls.
This application is based on provisional application Ser. No. 60/731,685, filed on Oct. 31, 2005.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENTNot Applicable
DESCRIPTION OF ATTACHED APPENDIXNot Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to pool cues more specifically designed for causing a pool cue ball to jump, the present invention relates to jump cues that are made from carbon/graphite material rather than a conventional wood, metal, or fiber glass type of material. One embodiment of the invention is a Jump Cue stick made with a carbon/graphite handle end and a carbon/graphite shaft “The striking end” to facilitate jumping a pool ball over an obstructing ball from a very close distance.
While deciding when to attempt a jump shot the player must determine at what distance the cue ball can be jumped over a blocking ball, depending on the skill of the player the average jump shot (the distance from cue ball to the blocking ball) is generally attempted from 6 inches or more from the block ball, if when attempting a jump shot closer than 4 inches from the blocking ball the shot becomes much more difficult and closing the distance of the jump shot to less than an inch becomes impossible for the conventional jump cue.
Cues, also called billiard cues or pool cues, are commonly employed in the popular games of billiards. Often during the course of play in the game of billiards the situation arises where the player wishes to strike a particular ball that is being obstructed or blocked by the ball of an opponent, or by another ball of the player's own, that is not intended or desired to be hit. To avoid hitting the ball of the opponent, or any other obstructing ball, “Jumping” the Cue Ball over the obstructing ball is sometimes practiced, thereby striking only the intended ball.
Jump cues are conventionally designed the same as traditional pool cues and are only one half there length and generally weigh 10 ounces or more.
The handle end and shaft end or “striking end” of the cue conventionally are made of wood, metal or fiber glass material which is characteristically heavy in nature, the striking end of the cue conventionally comprises a ferrule and having a tip made of leather or comparable synthetic material.
Striking the cue ball with the cue's tip being angled appropriately by holding the handle end of the cue at an elevated angle generally causes the cue ball to jump. In other words, the cue stick strikes the cue ball (or other desired ball) at a relatively sharply elevated angle with a simultaneous downward and forward motion and with an increased amount of force. Upon proper execution of this task, the cue ball will jump off the table playing surface, avoid contact with the obstructing ball, and successfully strike the desired ball. This, however, requires a considerable amount of skill and hours of practice to successfully perform. Because of the high level of skill involved, the player often times will run the risk of not hitting his own ball with the cue ball and will instead strike the obstructing ball with the cue ball, or even another ball on the table not intended to be struck. The player also runs the risk of mis-striking the cue ball with the cue and hitting the cue tip against the table. This, of course can cause damage to the cue tip itself due to the tremendous force generated to cause the ball to jump. Additionally, hitting the table with the cue tip can tear the delicate felt cloth material that traditionally covers pool tables.
One method of jumping the cue balls is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,326,329 (Doss). Doss '329 describes a modified cue stick having a significantly shortened length, approximately one half that of standard cue sticks and having a plurality of weights placed in the handle of the stick, and having a tip. However, the invention described in Doss '329 still requires the player to elevate the stick at approximately a forty-five degree angle to the table and thrusting the cue stick downwardly, and is still manufactured in the conventional way plus utilizing added weight. Therefore, Doss '329 does not solve the problem that the present invention seeks to solve.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,251,024 B1 (summers et al.) describes a pool cue having a modified tip for purposes of jumping a cue ball over an obstructing ball. The tip of the pool cue summers et al. '024, which is made of a resilient material, comprises a concave depression. It is the combination of the concave depression with the particular shore hardness of the resilient material that serves to provide the control and performance characteristics of the invention of summers et al. '024. The tip can also either be permanently placed on the cue stick or can be removable so that varying tips providing varying jumping ability and control can be employed, depending on the particular situation at hand.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe primary advantage of the present invention is to provide a pool jump cue stick that has lightness, strength, and convenience of construction.
Another advantage of the jump cue stick of claim 1, wherein the center of gravity (G) is within plus or minus 5% of the middle point (M) of the total length (L) of the jump cue stick.
Another advantage of this invention is to provide a jump cue stick with greater accuracy.
A further advantage of the invention is that it allows for jumping a cue ball from very close distances to obstructing balls.
Other advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following descriptions, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is disclosed an Improved Segmented Jump Cue stick comprising: A jump cue stick having greater structural shaft strength than conventional jump cues and being one half the overall total weight of conventional jump cues. Unlike prior art jump cues, the shaft construction of present invention allows for greater force transfer to the cue ball to give the ability to jump the cue ball over an obstructing ball from a much closer distance.
The light weight combined with the solid resilient tip provides the player with an improved device for the purpose of jumping cue balls over obstructing balls or an opponent's ball during play. Having a modified handle shaft end and a modified shaft striking end with a ferrule tip assembly. The tip has a striking end which is predominantly flat on the end with a radial edge around the contact point. Conventional jump cues being standard in weight are restricted as to how close a jump shot can be preformed, the closer the distance between the cue ball and the obstructing ball the more difficult the jump shot becomes, the weight of the jump cue stick becomes a major factor in the ability of the jump cue stick to be able to perform the jump shot.
The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments to the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention.
Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner.
The present invention is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be evident, however, to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details.
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This is shown in contrast to using a conventional jump cue stick 60 as illustrated. When using a conventional jump cue stick 60 to jump the cue ball 40 over obstructing ball 42 in the same manner, jump cue stick 60 uses a lower angle 56 (0)2 causing the cue ball 40 to jump with a more horizontal trajectory. Conventional jump cue stick 60 is limited to how near a jump shot can be preformed do to the lower angle 56 causing a lower trajectory with the cue ball 40.
In addition, the chance of the cue ball 40 going out of control and flying completely off of the table and causing damage to anything around the table is very possible. Both the angle 55 and the weight of the jump cue stick 10 and the direction of the force F1 enables the cue ball 40 to jump in a more vertical trajectory and in a much more directed manner.
While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
Claims
1. An article of manufacture for a Improved Segmented Jump Cue stick comprising: A ferrule and tip assembly on shaft (B) being the end most portion of said stick wherein said ferrule and tip is secured to said stick at the striking end of said stick;
- A very strong and improved segmented jump cue stick being of ten parts and comprising an annular and elongated progressively tapered body, specifically designed for causing a pool cue ball to jump and wherein said jump cue stick comprises;
- A handle end shaft (A) being of said stick and having a shaft connecting end for being releasably connected to end of shaft (B); and
- A shaft (B) having a connecting end and a striking end;
- A improved segmented jump cue stick according to claim 1 wherein said shaft (A) and said shaft (B) are made of carbon/graphite material;and
- A ferrule and tip assembly according to claim 1 wherein said tip having an annular body being predominately flat on the end with a radial edge around the contact area, said tip being used for striking a pool cue ball;and
- A slip sleeve, a means for transferring force being positioned annularly to said shaft (B); and
- A ferrule fitting annularly at the striking region of said shaft (B) and secured; and
- A Phenolic tip being secured to said shaft (B) at said striking end region and being the endmost member and being used for striking a pool cue ball.
2. The jump cue stick of claim 1, wherein the center of gravity (G) is within plus or minus 5% of the middle point (M) of the total length (L) of the jump cue stick and comprises;
- An elongated body having a first end and a second end, wherein said body has a length (L) having a middle point (M) and a center of gravity (G) and is progressively tapered so as to be more narrow towards said second end than said first end.
3. A improved segmented jump cue stick of claim 1 with a overall total weight of 50% or less of a conventional jump cue stick.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 1, 2006
Publication Date: Jun 5, 2008
Inventor: Mark Dean Dimick (Oklahoma City, OK)
Application Number: 11/607,613