Adjustable Forward Weighted Pool Cue

This application claims the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/807,901, which was filed on Aug. 16, 2024, which claims the benefit of U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 63/519,975, which was filed on Aug. 16, 2023. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/807,901 and U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 63/519,975 are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

This disclosure relates to implementations of an adjustable forward weighted pool cue.

illustrates a typical pool cue. The pool cue comprises a butt(or handle end) and a shaft. The buttand shafttypically are made from wood. The area where the buttand the shaftconnect is called the joint area. More specifically, the butthas a joint pin (typically a metal screw)extending from the distal end of the butt. The shaftat its proximal end includes a threaded portionconfigured to receive the joint pinto secure the buttto the shaft.

When in use, butt capof the buttis the proximal end of the pool cueand the tipof the shaftis the distal end. The pool cueis tapered such that the diameter of the pool cue gradually decreases from the butt capof the buttto the tipof the shaft. Thus, a buttis typically much heavier than a shaftsince the buttrequires more wood and typically has an additional weight bolt.

A typical buttweighs about 15 ounces. A typical shaftweighs about 4 ounces. Thus, the balance point of a pool cueis located towards the butt end and, typical the pool cueis relatively heavy. The standard pool cue is about 58 inches long with the buttand shaftgenerally being equal in length.

Implementations of a forward weighted pool cue are provided. In some implementations, the balance point of the pool cue is closer to the shaft end than the balance point for a traditional cue. In some implementations, a forward weighted pool cue is achieved by reducing the weight of the traditional butt. In other implementations, a forward weighted pool cue is achieved by reducing the weight of the traditional buttand increasing the weight of the traditional shaft. Thus, a forward weighted pool cue can be produced in multiple ways.

illustrates an implementation of an example reduced weight buttthat can be used to make a forward weighted pool cue according to the present disclosure. As shown in, the buttcomprises a hollow portionto reduce its weight.

In some implementations, the buttis configured to weigh 10 ounces or more. In some implementations, the buttis configured to weigh about 10 ounce or less. In some implementations, the buttis configured to weigh about 11 ounces or less. The term “about” or “thereabout” means the indicated measurement or specification or as close to the indicated measurement or specification as possible or practical allowing for any tolerable variances due manufacturing deviations due to, for example, material variability, tool wear, thermal expansion/contraction, machine precision limits, human factor, measuring devices, and/or assembly or alignment.

In some implementations, the buttis configured to achieve a desired weight. In some implementations, the material and size of the hollow portionof the buttare selected to achieve the above weight specifications or a weight less than a traditionalbutt.

illustrates implementations of example forward weighted pool cues,(referred to individually as example forward weighted pool cue) according to the present disclosure. In some implementations, the forward weighted pool cuecan be formed by attaching the reduced weight butthaving a hollow portionto a shaft,or(referred to collectively or individually at shaft), respectively.

In some implementations, the shaftis a traditional shaft. In some implementations, the butt(except the hollow portion) is solid and the shaftis solid. In some implementations, the shaftis made using a hollow carbon fiber tube as discussed in more detail with respect tobelow. In some implementations, the shaftis made using a hollow carbon fiber tube where at least a portion of the hollow tube is filled with a weighted materialas discussed in more detail with respect tobelow.

In some implementations, the buttand shaftare made from the same material. In some implementations, the buttand shaftare made from different materials. In some implementations, the buttand/or shaftcan be made from wood, carbon fiber, fiberglass, aluminum, graphite, or any other suitable materials. In this way, a pool cuehaving a balance point closer to the shaft end than the balance point for a traditional cueis achieved.

illustrates other implementations of example reduced weight butts,(referred to individually as butt) that can be used to make forward weighted pool cues according to the present disclosure. As shown in, the buttis made using a hollow carbon fiber tube configured to achieve a desired weight. In some implementations, at least a portion of the hollow tubeis filled with a weighted material.

In some implementations, the buttis made using a hollow tube made from any other suitable material. In some implementations, the tube material, the thicknessof the tube wall, and/or the weighted materialmay be varied to achieve a desired weight or weight distribution.

In some implementations, the desired weight of the buttis 9 ounces or thereabout. In some implementations, the desired weight of the buttis less than 9 ounces. In some implementations, the desired weight of the buttis greater than 9 ounces.

In some implementations, the thickness of the walls of the hollow carbon fiber tubeis about 2 mm or greater. In some implementations, the thickness of the walls of the hollow carbon fiber tubeis about 3 mm or less. In some implementations, the thickness of the walls of the hollow carbon fiber tubeis less than 2 mm. In some implementations, the thickness of the walls of the hollow carbon fiber tubeis greater than 3 mm.

illustrates other implementations of example forward weighted pool cues(referred to individually as example forward weighted pool cue) according to the present disclosure. In some implementations, the forward weighted pool cue,can be formed by attaching the reduced weight buttmade using a hollow carbon fiber tube to a shaftor(referred to individually at shaft), respectively.

illustrates other implementations of example forward weighted pool cues(referred to individually as example forward weighted pool cue) according to the present disclosure. In some implementations, the forward weighted pool cue,can be formed by attaching the reduced weight buttmade using a hollow carbon fiber tube with weighted materialto the shaftorrespectively. In some implementations, the weighted materialis located in the buttnear or adjacent to the joint areaof the pool cue. In some implementations, the weighted materialis located anywhere along the buttIn some implementations, the weighted materialis located along the buttto help achieve the desired balance point. In some implementations, the weighted materialis located along the buttsuch that the resulting balance point of the forward weighted pool cueis closer to the shaft end than the balance point for a traditional cue.

In some implementations, the shaftis a traditional shaft. In some implementations, the shaftis solid. In some implementations, the shaftis made using a hollow carbon fiber tube as discussed in more detail with respect tobelow. In some implementations, the shaftis made using a hollow carbon fiber tube where at least a portion of the hollow tube is filled with a weighted materialas discussed in more detail with respect tobelow.

In some implementations, the buttand shaftare made from the same material. In some implementations, the buttand shaftare made from different materials. In some implementations, buttand/or shaftcan be made from wood, carbon fiber, fiberglass, aluminum, graphite, or any other suitable materials. In this way, a pool cuehaving a balance point closer to the shaft end than the balance point for a traditional cueis achieved.

illustrates implementations of example increased weight shafts(referred to individually as shaft) that can be used to make forward weighted pool cues according to the present disclosure. As shown in, the shaftis made using a hollow carbon fiber tube configured to achieve a desired weight. In some implementations, at least a portion of the hollow tubeis filled with a weighted material. In some implementations, the weighted materialis a heavier material than the material from which the shaftis made.

In some implementations, the shaftis made using a hollow tube made from any other suitable material. For example, a material with equally as strong a weight to stiffness ratio as carbon fiber may be used to form the hollow tube. In some implementations, the shaft material, the thicknessof the tube wall, and/or the weighted materialmay be varied to achieve a desired weight.

In some implementations, the desired weight of the shaftis about 5 ounces or greater. In some implementations, the desired weight of the shaftis about 10 ounces or less. In some implementations, the desired weight of the shaftis less than 5 ounces. In some implementations, the desired weight of the shaftis greater than 10 ounces.

In some implementations, the thickness of the walls of the hollow carbon fiber tubeis about 1 mm or greater. In some implementations, the thickness of the walls of the hollow carbon fiber tubeis about 2 mm or less. In some implementations, the thickness of the walls of the hollow carbon fiber tubeis less than 1 mm. In some implementations, the thickness of the walls of the hollow carbon fiber tubeis greater than 2 mm.

In some implementations, the weighted materialmay be a metal, rubber, or other material that is heavier than the material from which the shaftis made. In some implementations, the weighted materialmay be stainless steel bars, stainless steel ball bearings, solid steel rods, or any other suitable material.

In some implementations, the weighted materialmay further comprise an epoxy or liquid rubber. For example, in some implementations, the weighted materialmay be stainless steel sand mixed with epoxy.

In some implementations, the weighted materialis located in the shaftnear or adjacent to the joint areaof the pool cue. In some implementations, the weighted materialis installed anywhere along the shaftIn some implementations, the weighted materialis located along the buttto help achieved the desired balance point. In some implementations, the weighted materialis located along the shaftsuch that the resulting balance point of the forward weighted pool cueis closer to the shaft end than the balance point for a traditional cue.

illustrates an implementation of an example adjustable weight shaftthat can be used to make a forward weighted pool cueaccording to the present disclosure. As shown in, the shaftcomprises at its proximal end a hollow portionbound by threads having the same thread profile as the joint pinof the buttdesired for the pool cue or a compatible thread profile.

In some implementation, the length of the hollow portionis longer than the typical thread portionso as to receive one or more weighted bolts (or set screws)to adjust the weight of the shaft. In some implementations, the length of the hollow portionis 10 inches or more. In some implementations, the length of the hollow portionis less than 10 inches.

In some implementations, the one or more weighted boltsinclude threads so that the weighted bolts can be screwed into the threaded hollow portion. In some implementations, the thread profile of the one or more weighted bolts are the same as or compatible with the thread profile of the joint pin of the butt desired for the pool cue.

In some implementations, the weighted boltsmay be brass, stainless steel, aluminum, or any other suitable material.

In some implementations, a method of adjusting the weight of the shaftcomprises selecting from a group of weighted bolts having varying weights and inserting one or more weighted bolts into the hollow portionor removing one or more weighted bolts from the hollow portion. In some implementations, a weighted bolt is inserted into or removed from the hollow portionby screwing or unscrewing the weighted bolt inside the hollow portion. In some implementations, the group of weighted bolts comprises weighted bolts of different lengths.

In some implementations, a method of adjusting the balance point of a pool cue comprises adjusting the location of a weighted bolt inside the hollow portion. In some implementations, the location of a weighted bolt is adjusted by screwing or unscrewing the weighted bolt inside the hollow portion.

A forward weighted pool cue can be formed by attaching a butt (e.g., butt,,) to the shafthaving one or more weighted boltshoused inside the hollow portionby screwing the joint pininto the hollow portion.

Thus, a forward weighted pool cue can be formed by adjusting the weight of an adjustable weight shaft or attaching an increased weight shaft to a reduced weight butt. In this way, a pool cue having a balance point closer to the shaft end than the balance point for a traditional cueis achieved. Thus, when the pool cue of the present disclosure is in use, the mass of the cue is closer to the cue ball and therefore there is more weight on the bridge hand thereby increasing stability, control, and the feeling of power.

The figures, including photographs and drawings, comprised herewith may represent one or more implementations of a forward weighted pool cue.

Details shown in the figures, such as dimensions, descriptions, etc., are exemplary, and there may be implementations of other suitable details according to the present disclosure.

Reference throughout this specification to “an embodiment” or “implementation” or words of similar import means that a particular described feature, structure, or characteristic is comprised in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. Thus, the phrase “in some implementations” or a phrase of similar import in various places throughout this specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment.

Many modifications and other embodiments of the disclosures set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which these disclosures pertain having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings.

The described features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the above description, numerous specific details are provided for a thorough understanding of embodiments of the disclosure. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that embodiments of the disclosure can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations may not be shown or described in detail.

While operations may be depicted in the drawings or described in the description in a particular order, this should not be understood as requiring that such operations be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirable results.