Cue stick support

Abstract

A cue holder for use in the games of billiards, pool and the like includes a cue holder having a billiard-size ball with an opening extending therethrough and sized to receive a tip-end portion of a cue stick. The ball can support the cue stick in spaced apart relation to a billiard table surface, and the ball can slide on the billiard table surface in unison movement with the cue stick. The cue holder can include a compressible foam layer positioned within the bore for frictionally engaging the cue stick to releasably retain the ball at a predetermined position on the cue stick.

1 . A cue holder comprising a billiard-size ball having an opening extending therethrough and sized to receive a tip-end portion of a cue stick for supporting the cue stick in spaced apart relation to a billiard table surface, and wherein the ball can slide on the billiard table surface in unison movement with the cue stick whereby the cue holder helps prevent damage to the billiard table surface.  
   
   
       2 . A cue holder according to  claim 1 , wherein the opening comprises a bore extending through the ball, and further comprising retention means for cooperating with the ball and cue stick to retain the ball at a predetermined position on the cue stick.  
   
   
       3 . A cue holder according to  claim 1 , wherein the ball has a diameter in the range of 4.5 to 5.5 centimeters.  
   
   
       4 . A cue holder according to  claim 1 , wherein the opening comprises a bore defined by an interior surface of the ball, and further comprising retention means for cooperating with the ball and cue stick to releasably retain the ball at a predetermined position on the cue stick, the retention means comprising a lining on the interior surface of the ball.  
   
   
       5 . A cue holder according to  claim 4 , wherein the lining comprises an elastomeric material.  
   
   
       6 . A cue holder according to  claim 4 , wherein the lining comprises one or more materials selected from the group consisting of foam rubber and foam plastic.  
   
   
       7 . A cue holder according to  claim 4 , wherein the lining comprises molded rubber.  
   
   
       8 . A cue holder according to  claim 4 , wherein the bore is tapered to conform to the tapered shape of the cue stick.  
   
   
       9 . A cue holder according to  claim 4 , wherein the bore has an entrance end and an exit end, and the diameter at each of the ends is less than the diameter at a point between each of the ends whereby the lining is not in complete frictional engagement with the stick.  
   
   
       10 . A cue holder according to  claim 1 , further comprising first and second attachment members positioned at opposite ends of the ball for maintaining the ball at a predetermined position on the cue stick.  
   
   
       11 . A cue holder according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second attachment members comprise a pair of washers.  
   
   
       12 . A cue holder according to  claim 1 , in combination with the cue stick.  
   
   
       13 . A cue holder according to  claim 1 , wherein the opening is defined by an interior surface of the ball, and further comprising a compressible foam layer positioned on the interior surface for frictionally engaging the cue stick whereby the ball is releasably maintained at a predetermined position on the cue stick.  
   
   
       14 . A cue holder according to  claim 13 , wherein the opening has an entrance end, an exit end, and a center section therebetween, and further wherein the diameter at each of the ends is greater than the diameter of the center section and the compressible foam layer is removably positioned in the entrance end and the exit end.  
   
   
       15 . A cue holder according to  claim 14 , further comprising a first compressible foam member for positioning in the entrance end of the opening and a second compressible foam member for positioning in the exit end, each of the foam members having a hole therein for receiving the cue stick whereby the first and second foam members frictionally engage the cue stick.  
   
   
       16 . A method for equipping a billiard cue stick for training play comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing a billiard size ball having an opening defined by an inner surface of the ball;    (b) positioning a cue stick within the bore such that the ball is positioned at a desired location on the cue stick for supporting the cue stick in spaced apart relation to a billiard table surface; and    (c) retaining the ball at the desired location on the cue stick, wherein the ball can slide on the billiard table surface in unison movement with the cue stick.    
   
   
       17 . A method according to  claim 16 , further comprising the step of covering the inner surface of the ball defining the bore with a compressible foam layer.  
   
   
       18 . A method according to  claim 16 , further comprising the step of providing at least one compressible foam washer positioning in the opening and having a hole to receive the cue stick whereby foam washer frictionally engages the cue stick.  
   
   
       19 . A method of making a cue holder comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing a billiard sized ball;    (b) forming an opening in the ball;    (c) positioning a compressible foam layer within the opening; and    (d) forming a hole within the compressible foam layer sized to receive a cue stick for supporting the cue stick in spaced apart relation to a billiard table surface.    
   
   
       20 . A method according to  claim 19 , wherein the step of forming a hole within the compressible foam layer comprises forming a tapered bore shaped to receive a tapered cue stick.