Hand held cue guide with an adjustable handle for playing billiards games

Abstract

The invention presents a hand held guide for cue shaft with an adjustable handle for playing billiard games. The guide comprises an elongated “V”-shaped guide containing said adjustable handle at least one axis that allow the pieces forming the axis to articulate up to 180 degrees. In addition, the handle contains at least one adjustable grip and the elongated “V”-shaped guide contains at least one concave groove to place the index finger or the middle finger when the person using the guide performs a closed bridge to wrap the guide.

Claims

1. A hand held guide for a cue shaft used to strike a cue ball comprising: a cue guide with an adjustable handle for playing billiard games, wherein the cue guide is an elongated “V”-shaped guide and the adjustable handle is made of an inferior piece and a superior piece that are joined by a match of crests that extend between the inferior piece and the superior piece, wherein the crests are secured by an adjustable screw, and wherein the superior piece is joined to the cue guide by the match of crests extended from the superior piece to the cue guide, and wherein the crests are secured by a screw; wherein said adjustable handle has at least one axis that allows the adjustable handle to articulate up to 180 degrees separately from the “V”-shaped guide of the cue guide.

2. The hand held guide for cue shaft as set forth in claim 1, wherein said adjustable handle has two axes that allows the handle to articulate up to 180 degrees.

3. The hand held guide for a cue shaft as set forth in claim 1, wherein the exterior end of one side of said hand held guide has at least one groove to place the index and/or the middle finger when the person uses the guide.

4. The hand held guide for a cue shaft as set forth in claim 1, wherein the exterior end of one side of said hand held guide has two grooves to place the index and/or the middle finger when the person uses the guide.

5. The hand held guide for a cue shaft as set forth in claim 1, wherein the elongated length of the guide ranges from 5 to 15 inches.

6. The hand held guide for a cue shaft as set forth in claim 1, wherein the elongated length of the guide ranges from 7 to 12 inches.

7. The hand held guide for a cue shaft as set forth in claim 1, wherein the elongated length of guide is 9 inches.

8. The hand held guide for a cue shaft as set forth in claim 1, wherein said guide is made of a material selected from a group of: plastic, polycarbonate, wood, glass or a combination thereof.

9. The hand held guide for a cue shaft as set for in claim 1, wherein said guide is made of transparent polycarbonate.

10. The hand held guide for a cue shaft as set for in claim 1, wherein said handle has at least one movable grip.

11. The hand held guide for a cue shaft as set for in claim 1, wherein said handle has two movable grips.

12. The hand held guide for a cue shaft as set for in claim 11, wherein each grip is made of a material selected from a group of: rubber, silicone or a combination of thereof.

13. The hand held guide for a cue shaft as set for in claim 1, wherein the said “V”-shaped guide contains a flat bottom.

14. The hand held guide for cue shaft as set forth in claim 1, wherein said adjustable handle attaches substantially perpendicular to the “V”-shaped guide.

15. The hand held guide for cue shaft as set forth in claim 14, wherein said adjustable handle has two axes that allows the handle to articulate up to 180 degrees.

16. The hand held guide for cue shaft as set forth in claim 14, wherein the exterior end of one side of said hand held guide has at least one groove to place the index and/or the middle finger when the person uses the guide.

17. The hand held guide for cue shaft as set forth in claim 14, wherein the exterior end of one side of said hand held guide has two grooves to place the index and/or the middle finger when the person uses the guide.

18. The hand held guide for cue shaft as set forth in claim 14, wherein the elongated length of the guide ranges from about 5 to 15 inches, about 7 to 12 inches, or about 9 inches.

19. The hand held guide for cue shaft as set forth in claim 14, wherein said guide is made of a material selected from a group of: plastic, polycarbonate, wood, glass or a combination thereof.

20. The hand held guide for cue shaft as set forth in claim 14, wherein said guide is made of transparent polycarbonate.

21. The hand held guide for cue shaft as set forth in claim 14, wherein said handle has at least one movable grip.

22. The hand held guide for cue shaft as set forth in claim 14, wherein said handle has two movable grips.

23. The hand held guide for a cue shaft as set for in claim 21, wherein each grip is made of a material selected from a group of: rubber, silicone or a combination of thereof.

24. The hand held guide for a cue shaft as set for in claim 22, wherein each grip is made of a material selected from a group of: rubber, silicone or a combination of thereof.

25. The hand held guide for a cue shaft as set for in claim 14, wherein the said “V”-shaped guide has a flat bottom.

26. The hand held guide for a cue shaft as set for in claim 23, wherein the said “V”-shaped guide has a flat bottom.

27. The hand held guide for a cue shaft as set for in claim 24, wherein the said “V”-shaped guide has a flat bottom.

28. A hand held guide for a cue shaft used to strike a cue ball comprising: a cue guide with an adjustable handle for playing billiard games, wherein the cue guide is an elongated “V”-shaped guide, wherein the cue guide and the adjustable handle are joined by a match of crests that extend between the adjustable handle and the elongated “V”-shaped guide, wherein the crests are secured by an adjustable screw; wherein said adjustable handle has at least one axis that allows the “V”-shaped guide of the cue guide to articulate about the adjustable handle up to 180 degrees.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated into and form a part of the specification, illustrate several embodiments of the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. The drawings are only for the purpose of illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention and are not to be construed as limiting the invention. In the drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the embodiment of the hand held cue guide with an adjustable handle according to the present invention.

(3) FIG. 2 is a representative view of the embodiment showing the invention from three different perspectives.

(4) FIG. 3 is a representative view of the embodiment of the invention forming an “L” shape with the handle to perform an over ball shot. The articulated handle of the cue guide contains two axes.

(5) FIG. 4 is a representative view of the hand held cue guide with an adjustable handle when the player performs a shot over the pocket of the table.

(6) FIG. 5 is a dismembered view of the invention.

(7) FIG. 6 is a representative view of the hand held guide for cue shaft when used on a regular play flat on the table without performing a bridge.

(8) FIG. 7 is a representative view of the player while using the hand held cue guide in a flat position when it is placed on the rail performing a break or opening shot.

(9) FIG. 8 is a representative view of the hand held cue guide containing a sole articulated axis.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION AND PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(10) Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIG. 1, the cue guide is shown 1 with two concave grooves 5(a) and 5(b) to place the index and/or the middle finger, for example, when the player is performing a closed bride. In addition, FIG. 1 shows the articulate handle with its inferior piece 3 having two movable grips 13(a) and 13(b) connected to the superior piece 2 and the two crests 6 belonging to the “V”-shaped cue guide 4 of the cue guide 1.

(11) FIG. 2 shows a flat view of the cue guide 1 with its adjustable handle formed by its two pieces 2 and 3. FIG. 2 shows the joint between the inferior 3 and the superior 2 piece by both haft crests 12 and 11 respectively, connected by a screw 9(a) and a recessed nut 10(a) placed on the superior piece 2. In addition, FIG. 2 shows the joint between the superior piece 2 and the cue guide 1 produced by the match of the three crests 7 of the superior piece 2 of the handle with the two crests 6 that extend from the “V”-shaped cue guide 4 of piece 1. The five crests in the joint are secured by a screw 9(b) that crosses though the holes in the five crests until reaching the recessed nut 10(b). FIG. 2 also shows grips 13(a) and 13(b) and concave grooves 5(a) and 5(b).

(12) FIG. 3 shows a player performing an over ball shot. To perform this stroke, the player articulates the inferior 3 and superior 2 pieces so as the make a 90 degree angle forming an “L” shape. The cue shaft 15 slides over the “V”-shaped 4 of cue guide 1. The joint among the three crests 7 of the superior portion 2 of the handle and the two crests 6 of the cue guide piece 1, as well as the joint between the inferior piece 3 and the superior piece 2 with their the half crests members 12 and 11, are shown in FIG. 3. Finally, this figure shows how the player has full visibility over the entire shot since in a preferred embodiment the guide is transparent, and the hand holding the articulated handle does not interfere with his/her view.

(13) FIG. 4 shows a player shooting close to the pocket and placing the handle made of pieces 3 and 2 and the cue guide 1 almost in a flat position allowing his/her fingers to hold the handle with the borders of the pocket. The figure shows how the player moves the cue shaft 15 along the entire surface of the “V”-shaped guide 4 of piece 1. In FIG. 4, the player is adjusting the grip 13(b) to make soft contact to the borders of the superior part of the pocket.

(14) FIG. 5 shows a fully and dismembered view of the device presented in the invention, where it can be seen that the two grips 13(a) and 13(b) fit into the inferior piece 3. The inferior piece 3 has at one end a half crest 12 that matches with another half crest 11 belonging to superior piece 2. The superior piece 2 contains a pair of screws 9(a) and 9(b) and a pair of nuts 10(a) and 10(b) recessed countersink, countersunk and/or counterbored holes on the exterior side 8(a) and 8(b) of superior piece 2. In addition, piece 2 contains at the upper edge three crests 7 that match two other crests 6 that extend from cue guide 1. The cue guide represented as 1 has a “V”-shape 4 containing two concave grooves 5(a) and 5(b) for placing the index and/or the middle finger.

(15) FIG. 6 shows the player performing a shot placing his/her hand on the table without forming a bridge to hold the handle. The joint of the superior part 2 and the two crests 6 shows a comfortable articulation of the handle to perform the shot. FIG. 6 shows that the player just wraps the handle of the cue guide 1 with his fist without performing a bridge. The grip 13(a) is making soft contact with the table.

(16) FIG. 7 shows a representative view of the player using the hand held cue guide 1 when playing on the rail and performing a break or opening shot. For the mentioned shot, the player uses the hand held cue guide 1 in a flat position. The figure shows the player moving the cue stick back as much as possible 15 over the “V”-shape 4 of the cue guide 1 to perform the break shot. FIG. 7 shows how the player places the articulated handle in a flat position moving the grip 13(a) towards the end of the handle, while placing the index finger on the concave groove 5(a). The action of moving the cue stick as far as the guide allows it generates more control power on the shot by distance and not by a sudden move, as if the player would not be using the hand held cue guide 1.

(17) FIG. 8 is a representative view of the hand held cue guide 1 containing a sole articulated axis. In addition, FIG. 8 shows the joint between the handle piece 14 and the cue guide 1. The joint between the mentioned portions occurred by the match of the three crests 16 of the piece 14 of the handle with the two crests 6 that extend from the “V”-shape 4 of the cue guide 1. The five crests in the joint are secured by a screw 17 that crosses through the holes of the five crests until it reaches the nut 18.

(18) Although this invention has been described in detail with particular reference to the preferred embodiments, other embodiments can achieve almost the same results. Variations and modifications of the present invention will be considered obvious to those skilled in the art and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications and equivalents.

(19) It is contemplated that any embodiment discussed in this specification can be implemented with respect to any method, kit, reagent, or composition of the invention, and vice versa. Furthermore, compositions of the invention can be used to achieve methods of the invention.

(20) It will be understood that particular embodiments described herein are shown by way of illustration and not as limitations of the invention. The principal features of this invention can be employed in various embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, numerous equivalents to the specific procedures described herein. Such equivalents are considered to be within the scope of this invention and are covered by the claims.

(21) All publications and patent applications mentioned in the specification are indicative of the level of skill of those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains. All publications and patent applications are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

(22) The use of the word “a” or “an” when used in conjunction with the term “comprising” in the claims and/or the specification may mean “one,” but it is also consistent with the meaning of “one or more,” “at least one,” and “one or more than one.” The use of the term “or” in the claims is used to mean “and/or” unless explicitly indicated to refer to alternatives only or the alternatives are mutually exclusive, although the disclosure supports a definition that refers to only alternatives and “and/or.” Throughout this application, the term “about” is used to indicate that a value includes the inherent variation of error for the device, the method being employed to determine the value, or the variation that exists among the study subjects.

(23) As used in this specification and claim(s), the words “comprising” (and any form of comprising, such as “comprise” and “comprises”), “having” (and any form of having, such as “have” and “has”), “including” (and any form of including, such as “includes” and “include”) or “containing” (and any form of containing, such as “contains” and “contain”) are inclusive or open-ended and do not exclude additional, unrecited elements or method steps. In embodiments of any of the compositions and methods provided herein, “comprising” may be replaced with “consisting essentially of” or “consisting of”. As used herein, the phrase “consisting essentially of” requires the specified integer(s) or steps as well as those that do not materially affect the character or function of the claimed invention. As used herein, the term “consisting” is used to indicate the presence of the recited integer (e.g., a feature, an element, a characteristic, a property, a method/process step or a limitation) or group of integers (e.g., feature(s), element(s), characteristic(s), property(ies), method/process steps or limitation(s)) only.

(24) The term “or combinations thereof” as used herein refers to all permutations and combinations of the listed items preceding the term. For example, “A, B, C, or combinations thereof” is intended to include at least one of: A, B, C, AB, AC, BC, or ABC, and if order is important in a particular context, also BA, CA, CB, CBA, BCA, ACB, BAC, or CAB. Continuing with this example, expressly included are combinations that contain repeats of one or more item or term, such as BB, AAA, AB, BBC, AAABCCCC, CBBAAA, CABABB, and so forth. The skilled artisan will understand that typically there is no limit on the number of items or terms in any combination, unless otherwise apparent from the context.

(25) As used herein, words of approximation such as, without limitation, “about”, “substantial” or “substantially” refers to a condition that when so modified is understood to not necessarily be absolute or perfect but would be considered close enough to those of ordinary skill in the art to warrant designating the condition as being present. The extent to which the description may vary will depend on how great a change can be instituted and still have one of ordinary skill in the art recognize the modified feature as still having the required characteristics and capabilities of the unmodified feature. In general, but subject to the preceding discussion, a numerical value herein that is modified by a word of approximation such as “about” may vary from the stated value by at least ±1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 12 or 15%.

(26) All of the compositions and/or methods disclosed and claimed herein can be made and executed without undue experimentation in light of the present disclosure. While the compositions and methods of this invention have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, it will be apparent to those of skill in the art that variations may be applied to the compositions and/or methods and in the steps or in the sequence of steps of the method described herein without departing from the concept, spirit and scope of the invention. All such similar substitutes and modifications apparent to those skilled in the art are deemed to be within the spirit, scope and concept of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

(27) To aid the Patent Office, and any readers of any patent issued on this application in interpreting the claims appended hereto, applicants wish to note that they do not intend any of the appended claims to invoke paragraph 6 of 35 U.S.C. § 112 as it exists on the date of filing hereof unless the words “means for” or “step for” are explicitly used in the particular claim.

(28) For each of the claims, each dependent claim can depend both from the independent claim and from each of the prior dependent claims for each and every claim so long as the prior claim provides a proper antecedent basis for a claim term or element.