Cue Holder

Abstract

A cue holder includes a shelf having a major surface configured to be mounted facing upward. The shelf includes an opening extending through the shelf from the major surface to another major surface in a direction perpendicular to the major surfaces. The opening also extends from an outside perimeter. The opening is configured to receive a cue through the opening extending from the outside perimeter. The shelf is configured to support the entire weight of the received cue within the opening.

Description

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates generally to sporting equipment, and relates more particularly to a billiard cue holder.

BACKGROUND

A billiard cue is a precise article of sporting equipment with regard to materials, manufacture, finish, and ornate decoration. A modern cue can be costly, and safe storage is a significant concern. While a variety of cue holding and storage devices are known in the art, each includes one or more disadvantages. For example, clamping and clasping type cue holders can mar the fine surface finish of the cue and can damage the internal structure of the cue. Floor mounted cue holding devices and typical wall mounted holders that rely on storing the cue in a leaning position are prone to accidental bumping and jarring that can result in the cue falling and acquiring damage. Furthermore, many cue holders can cause warping, either due to gravity, clasping, cam, or roller gripping components.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure may be better understood, and its numerous features and advantages made apparent to those skilled in the art by referencing the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a cue holder in accordance with a specific embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates an overhead view of the cue holder of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates a side plan view of the cue holder of FIG. 1.

The use of the same reference symbols in different drawings indicates similar or identical items.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The numerous innovative teachings of the present application will be described with particular reference to the presently preferred exemplary embodiments. However, it should be understood that this class of embodiments provides only a few examples of the many advantageous uses of the innovative teachings herein. In general, statements made in the specification of the present application do not necessarily limit any of the various claimed inventions. Moreover, some statements may apply to some inventive features but not to others.

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a cue holder 100 in accordance with a specific embodiment of the present disclosure while holding a cue 150. Cue holder 100 includes a shelf portion 110 and a mounting portion 130. Shelf portion 110 includes a plurality of openings 120 that are each adapted to suspend a cue such as cue 150.

Shelf 110 includes an upper major surface 160 configured to be mounted facing upward. Opening 120 extends through the shelf 110 from the upper major surface to a lower major surface in a direction perpendicular to the first major surface, and into the shelf from a front minor surface 170 in a direction perpendicular to the front minor surface to form an inside perimeter at shelf 110. Each of openings 120 includes a first portion 180 that is substantially circular in shape as viewed from above as shown. Opening 120 further includes a second portion 190 that extends between the first portion 180 and the front minor surface 170. Note that the term “outside perimeter” as used herein is exclusive of the inside perimeter formed along openings 120.

Each respective opening 120 of cue holder 100 can receive and hold a corresponding cue, such as cue 150. Shelf 110 is configured to support the entire weight of cues, such as cue 150, being held. Therefore, cue 150 does not contact an underlying support structure, such as the ground, when supported by cue holder 100.

A user places cue 150 for storage at cue holder 100 by holding cue 150 in a vertical orientation with the cue tip facing downwards. The user raises cue 150 to a suitable height such that the shaft of the cue can pass through the second portion 190 of opening 120. The user positions cue 150 into the cue holder 100 so that the central axis of cue 150 is approximately centered within the first portion 180 of opening 120. The user lowers cue 150 into the cue holder 100 until the external surface of cue 150 rests against shelf 110 along a perimeter of the first portion 180 of opening 120. Cue 150 can be removed by raising cue 150 a suitable distance and moving the cue towards the user such that the shaft of cue 150 passes through the second portion 190 of opening 120.

In one embodiment, the perimeter of the first portion 180 of opening 120 can be tapered such that the diameter of the first portion is greater at a location nearer the first major surface 160 than at a location further from the first major surface. Furthermore, the degree of taper of the first portion 180 of opening 120 can approximately match the taper of the shaft of cue 150 at the location on cue 150 that is in contact with shelf 110.

In another embodiment, a protective natural or synthetic material, or combination thereof, can be disposed at a portion of shelf 110 at the perimeter of the first portion 180 of opening 120, to prevent direct contact between shelf 110 and the surface of cue 150. For example, a woven or layered material such as felt can be disposed at the perimeter of the first portion 180. Cue holder 100 can support cue 150 at the cue's handle portion to minimize stresses that can lead to warping of cue 150 during storage and prevent damage to the fragile slender portion of cue 150. In another embodiment, inserts (not shown) can be disposed in the first portion 180 of opening 120, wherein the insert is configured to reduce the radius of the opening so as to preferably accommodate a cue whose shaft is of a lesser dimension than a standard cue, such as a cue intended for use by a child.

Cue holder 100 can be mounted to a vertical surface such as a wall, or to other surfaces that allow cues to be stored vertically. It will be appreciated that in other embodiments (not illustrated) shelf 110 can be mounted directly to a wall, whereby mounting portion 130 is not needed. In another embodiment, shelf portion 110 can be permanently integrated with the wall or surface during construction of the wall or surface.

Cue holder 100 can be manufactured from wood, plastic, or metal, and shelf portion 110 and mounting portion 130 can be manufactured as a single structure, or can be assembled from individual components and connected using fasteners or glue. Mounting portion can include holes (not shown) to facilitate attachment to a wall or vertical surface, or can include inlaid hardware to respectively receive the heads of corresponding hardware, such as nails, that are affixed to the wall or vertical surface.

The radius of the first portion 180 of opening 120 measured at the first major surface 160 of shelf 110 can be in a range centered around approximately 3.15 centimeters (cm). The width of the second portion 190 of opening 120 can be correspondingly centered in a range around approximately 2.95 cm.

FIG. 2 illustrates an overhead view 200 of the cue holder 100 of FIG. 1. Cue holder 100 includes shelf portion 110, openings 120, mounting portion 130, and dimensions 220, 230, and 240. Openings 120 as shown in FIG. 2 each include a first portion 180 indicated by arc 1202, and the second portion 190 that extends from the first portion to the outside perimeter edge of shelf 110 as indicated by line 1201. Note that the term “circular portion” as used herein is intended to refer to an arc that can be defined by a radius point and a distance from the radius point. It will be appreciated that such a portion need not be exactly circular, but may be substantially circular.

Openings 120 illustrated at FIG. 2 include a taper wherein the diameter of the first portion 180 is greater at a location nearer the first major surface 160 than at a location further from the first major surface. Dimension 230 corresponds to the diameter, which is twice the radius, of first portion 180 at the first major surface of shelf 110. Dimension 220 corresponds to the diameter of first portion 180 at the second major surface of shelf 110. Dimension 240 corresponds to the width of the second portion 190 of opening 120. Dimension 240 can be equal to dimension 220.

The taper of first portion 180 can progress over the entire distance between the first and second major surfaces of shelf 110 as illustrated, or can progress over a portion of the distance between the first and second major surfaces of shelf 110. If dimensions 220 and 230 are equal such that first portion 180 includes little or no taper, dimension 240 can be slightly less than dimension 220 to preclude cue 150 from sliding out through second portion 190.

FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of the cue holder 100 including the shelf 110, openings 120, and dimensions 220, 230, and 240. Also included are dashed lines 1205 that correspond to the first portion 180 of one of openings 120 at cross section 260 in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 3, the outer perimeter of shelf 110 is visible. Also visible is a substantial portion of the inside perimeter of the shelf that is formed by openings 120 as seen looking through the second portion 190 of each of openings 120, the second portion extending from the first portion 180 of each of openings 120 to the outside perimeter of shelf 110. The embodiment illustrated includes an opening 120 wherein the perimeter of the first portion 180 is tapered.

The thickness of shelf 110 as measured from the first major surface 160 to the second major surface can range from one millimeter (mm) to tens of centimeters.

Note that not all of the activities or elements described above in the general description are required, that a portion of a specific activity or device may not be required, and that one or more further activities may be performed, or elements included, in addition to those described. Still further, the order in which activities are listed are not necessarily the order in which they are performed.

Also, the concepts have been described with reference to specific embodiments. However, one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present disclosure.

For example, each of openings 120 at FIGS. 1-3 can be configured to accommodate a second cue or multiple cues. Each of openings 120 can include a second circular portion wherein each respective circular portion is operable to receive a corresponding cue. Furthermore, the perimeter of each circular portion can be tapered.

Shelf 110 illustrated at FIG. 1 is rectangular in shape, but other shapes are equally suitable. For example, shelf 110 can be curvaceous or semicircular with the back mounting edge straight for mounting to a wall. In another embodiment, shelf 110 can be approximately circular in the plan view, and mounted to a centrally located fixed or telescopic vertical support structure. Shelf 110 can be configured to rotate upon the supporting structure to permit the user to select a desired cue stored at one of a plurality of openings.

The height of shelf 110 as measured from the ground can vary as desired, and is determined in part by the dimensions of opening 120. For example, the dimensions of opening 120 may be selected such that cue 150 is supported by shelf 110 at a point approximately twenty-five percent of the distance from the handle-end of the cue to the tip end of the cue. In this case, shelf 110 can be mounted at such a height that the tip of cue 150 is a desired distance above the floor. The dimensions of openings 120 can be such that shelf 110 supports cue 150 close to the handle-end of cue 150, permitting shelf 110 to be mounted higher on a wall or other mounting surface and thus removing shelf 110 from immediate casual sight of onlookers.

Shelf 110 need not be oriented such that the major surfaces are level or parallel to the ground. For example, shelf 110 can be oriented at an angle thirty degrees from level and openings 120 can be configured such that the radial axis of the circular portion of opening 120 and the internal edges of the second portion of opening 120 are vertical.

Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been described above with regard to specific embodiments. However, the benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any feature(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential feature of any or all the claims.

Claims

1. A cue holder comprising:

a shelf comprising a first major surface configured to be mounted facing upward, and a first opening extending through the shelf from the first major surface to a second major surface in a direction perpendicular to the first major surface and extending from an outside perimeter, the first opening configured to receive a cue through the first opening extending from the outside perimeter, the shelf configured to support the entire weight of the received cue within the first opening.

2. The cue holder of claim 1 wherein the first opening includes a substantially circular portion from a plan view of the first major surface.

3. The cue holder of claim 2 wherein the first opening includes a second portion between the substantially circular portion and the outside perimeter having a width measured at the outside perimeter that is smaller than twice the radius of the substantially circular portion as measured from the plan view of the first major surface.

4. The cue holder of claim 3 wherein the substantially circular portion of the first opening is tapered such that the radius of the substantially circular portion of the first opening is greater at a location nearer the first major surface than at a location further from the first major surface.

5. The cue holder of claim 4 wherein the radius of the substantially circular portion of the first opening at the first of the major surfaces is greater than the radius of the substantially circular portion of the first opening at the second of the major surface.

6. The cue holder of claim 4 wherein the taper of the substantially circular portion of the first opening substantially matches the taper of the received cue.

7. The cue holder of claim 1 wherein the first opening is further configured such that an elongated dimension of the received cue is to be oriented substantially perpendicular to the first major surface with a handle of the cue above a tip of the cue.

8. The cue holder of claim 1 wherein the shelf is constructed using a material selected from group consisting of wood, plastic, and metal.

9. A cue holder comprising:

a shelf portion comprising a first major surface configured to be mounted facing upward, and a first opening extending through the shelf from the first major surface to a second major surface in a direction perpendicular to the first major surface and extending from an outside perimeter, the first opening configured to receive a cue through the first opening extending from the outside perimeter, the shelf configured to support the entire weight of the received cue within the first opening; and

a mounting portion attached to the shelf portion, the mounting portion configured to attach the shelf to a vertically oriented surface.

10. The cue holder of claim 9 wherein the first opening includes a substantially circular portion from a plan view of the first major surface.

11. The cue holder of claim 10 wherein the first opening includes a second portion between the substantially circular portion and the outside perimeter having a width measured at the outside perimeter that is smaller than twice the radius of the substantially circular portion as measured from the plan view of the first major surface.

12. The cue holder of claim 11 wherein the substantially circular portion of the first opening is tapered such that the radius of the substantially circular portion of the first opening is greater at a location nearer the first major surface than at a location further from the first major surface.

13. The cue holder of claim 12 wherein the radius of the substantially circular portion of the first opening at the first of the major surfaces is greater than the radius of the substantially circular portion of the first opening at the second of the major surface.

14. The cue holder of claim 12 wherein the taper of the substantially circular portion of the first opening substantially matches the taper of the received cue.

15. A cue holder comprising:

a shelf comprising a first major surface configured to be mounted facing upward, and a first opening extending through the shelf from the first major surface to a second major surface in a direction perpendicular to the first major surface and extending from an outside perimeter, the first opening configured to receive a cue through the first opening extending from the outside perimeter, the shelf configured to support the entire weight of the received cue within the first opening, and wherein the first opening forms an inside perimeter, a portion of the inside perimeter being tapered.

16. The cue holder of claim 15 wherein the tapered portion of the first opening is larger at a location nearer the first major surface than at a location further from the first major surface.

17. The cue holder of claim 16 wherein the taper of tapered portion of the first opening substantially matches the taper of the received cue.