GB2161393A - Cue rest - Google Patents

Abstract

The rest comprises cue support means 2, including a bore 5 to mount the support on a cue, which means 2 is rotatably mounted on means, eg wheels 3, such that a cue supported at its tapered end by the rest is moveable towards and away from a cue ball. Transverse extensions can be provided (Figs. 4 to 6) comprising dummy cues so that shots may be played close to a cushion. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Artificial bridge This invention relates to an artificial bridge for use in games such as billiards, snooker and pool.

The games, billiards, snooker and pool are all very popular indoor games which have become even more popular with the televising of the World Snooker Championships. The games all involve the use of a long tapered stick known as a cue to hit an object ball known as a cue ball. The term "billiards" will be used throughout the specification to cover all games of this type, including snooker and pool. In use, the cue is supported near its tapered end by a V-shaped bridge formed by the player's hand. The other hand grasps the butt end of the cue to slide it backwards and forwards on the bridge in order to hit the cue ball. It will be noted thatforthis game it is essential to use two hands effectively.This means that many people who have some form of disability in either of their arms are prevented from playing this very popular game since there is no way that they can support both ends of a cue. There are in existence rests which comprise a long cue like member with an X of metal at the tapered end on which the cue may be rested. However two hands are needed to operate the rest since the rest has to be gripped in one hand also.

According to this invention there is provided an artificial bridge for use in the game of billiards comprising cue support means including means to mount the support on a billiards cue, the cue support means being mounted for pivotal movement on meansto move the cue support along a billiards table such that a cue is supported at its tapered end by the cue support means and moveable towards and away from a cue ball.

Preferably the cue support means comprises a member joining two rollers or wheels which comprise the means to move the support along the billiards table.

Preferably the member includes a bore passing through it. The bore has a diameter which is less than the widest end of the cue but greater than the smaller end of the cue so that the cue may be inserted into the bore until the diameter of the cue is equal to the diameter of the bore and the cue support is then held firmly in position by friction on the cue.

The member is mounted on the two wheels and can therefore rotate with respect to the bii I ia rd s table allowing the operator flexibility of the angle at which he hits the cue ball.

Preferably the bore passing through the joining member lies slightly above or below the axis where the member joins the wheels so that the player may turn the support over if he requires a different angle of appraoch to the cue ball.

Preferably the joining member between the two wheels tapers towards the centre where the bore is situated to allow the player greater visibility so that the bridge does not obstruct his view of the cue ball.

The artificial bridge may be made of plastics or nay other suitable material. It is important that the bridge provides a stable support for a cue and has a low centre of gravity so that the angle of the bore and cue with respect to the table will tend to stay constant.

This artificial bridge will not perhaps be as flexible as the bridge that may be formed by a players hand but it does allow a disabled player to play a limited game of billiards which has hitherto been impossible.

Preferably the game would be played using a variety of different sized supports on the cue with different height wheels so that obstructions of many balls in front of the cue ball can be avoided by the player. Alternatively the artificial bridge may have a lateral extension with a short projection which serves as a dummy cue. This short projection may then be used to hit balls at awkward places like close to a cushion.

Two examples of an artificial bridge in accordance with the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first bridge.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the first bridge in use; Figure 3 is a section through a wheel of a second bridge.

Figure 4 is a pian view of the second bridge; Figure 5 is a perspective view of the second bridge in use; and, Figures 6A and B are schematic views of two examples of "dummy cue" which may be used with the second bridge.

A first artificial bridge 1 comprises a cue support means 2 and means 3 to move the cue support means across a billiards table. The cue support 2 is made of moulded plastics or any suitable material and comprises a joining member 4 which joins two wheels 3 which are rotatably mounted on joining member 4. A bore 5 pases through the joining member 4 through which a cue 6 may be inserted.

The diameter of the bore 5 is less than the diameter 7 of the butt end of the cue 6 but is larger than the diameter 8 of the tapered end of the cue 6. The cue 6 is inserted into bore 5 until the diameter of the cue 6 matches the diameter of the bore 5 and the bridge 1 is fixed in position by friction. The joining member 4 is tapered in the middle 9 to allow the player greater visibility of the cue ball 10. The bore 5 is situated off-centre of the joining member 4 so that the bridge 1 may be used with the bore 5 lower than the centre of the joining member or higher than the centre of the joining member by just turning the bridge over.

This allows greater flexibility. The wheels 3 have rims 11 which are chosen so that the surface of the billiards table is not destroyed. Since the two wheels 3 are separately rotatable this allows the rolling of the bridge 1 in any direction.

If the cue 6 is to be used by a non-disabled person the artificial bridge 1 may easily be removed without damage to the cue.

A second artificial bridge 12 has a similar centre to artificial bridge 7 with extension pieces 13,14 to improve handling of a cue with a bail close to a cushion.

The wheels 15 of the bridge 12 include a static metal inner rim 16 fixed to the bridge and a rotatable rolling outer rim 17. Between the rims 16 and 17 is defined an annular space 18 in which ball bearings 19 may freely move to allow the outer rim 17 to rotate easily with respect to inner rim 16.

Each ofthe lateral extensions 13,14 include a bore20,21 respectively. Into these bores may be inserted short dummy cues 22,23. The dummy cue 22 may be screw threaded into a screw threaded hole 20 to fix it in position or may be as cue 23 which is doubly tapered to give a friction fit into bore 21.

When a ball is in an awkward position a dummy cue 22 is inserted into position on extension piece 13 and the bridge is used using both the main cue and dummy cue to allow the disabled person a less limited game of snooker.

Claims (7)

1. An artificial bridge for use in the game of billiards comprising cue support means including means to mount the support on a billiards cue, the cue support means being mounted for pivotal movement on menas to move the cue suppot along a billiards table such that a cue is supported at its tapered end by the cue support means and moveable towards and away from a cue ball.

2. An artificial bridge as claimed in claim 1 in which the cue support means comprises a member joining 2 roliers or wheels which comprisefthe means to move the support along the billiards table.

3. An artificial bridge as claimed in either of claims 1 or 2 wherein the member has a bore passing through it.

4. An artificial bridge as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 in which the bore lies slightly above or below the axis where the member joins the wheels so that the support may be turned over if a different angle of approach to the cue ball is required.

5. An artificial bridge as claimed in claim 1 having a lateral extension with a short projection which serves as a dummy cue.

6. An artificial bridge as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5 which has a low centre of gravity so that the angle of the bore and cue with respect to the table will tend to stay constant.

7. An artificial bridge as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.