Billiard cue having a haft portion with a reverse taper

Abstract

A billiard cue is provided comprising an elongate rod having a ball striking tip at a first end thereof, and a haft portion extending along one-third of the length of the rod from the second end thereof. The haft portion is wider than the tip and has a first tapered section narrowing toward the second end. In use in striking a ball, the cue may be held at a position along the haft portion closer to the second end than an associated widest part of the first tapered section.

1 . A billiard cue, comprising: 
 an elongate rod having a ball striking tip at a first end thereof, and having a haft portion extending along one-third of the length of said rod from the second end thereof,    said haft portion being wider than said tip and having a first tapered section narrowing toward said second end,    such that in use in striking a ball said cue may be held at a position along said haft portion closer to said second end than an associated widest part of said first tapered section.    
     
     
         2 . The cue as defined in  claim 1  wherein said first tapered section extends from said associated widest part thereof to said second end.  
     
     
         3 . The cue as defined in  claim 1  wherein 
 said haft portion has a second tapered section between said ball striking tip and said first tapered section, and  
 said haft portion narrows from an associated widest part of said second tapered section towards said ball striking tip.  
 
     
     
         4 . The cue as defined in  claim 3  wherein said first tapered section and said second tapered section are contiguous.  
     
     
         5 . The cue as defined in  claim 1  wherein said first tapered section has an associated variable slope diminishing to zero at said associated widest part of said first tapered section.  
     
     
         6 . The cue as defined in  claim 5  wherein 
 said haft portion has a second tapered section closer to the ball striking tip than said first tapered section,  
 said haft portion narrows from an associated widest part of said second tapered section towards said ball striking tip; and  
 said second tapered section has an associated variable slope diminishing to zero at said associated widest part of said second tapered section.  
 
     
     
         7 . The cue as defined in  claim 6  wherein said second tapered section, at said associated widest part thereof, merges with said first tapered section at said associated widest part thereof such that said associated slope of said first tapered section merges smoothly into said associated slope of said second tapered section.  
     
     
         8 . The cue as defined in  claim 3  wherein 
 said first tapered section extends back from said widest part thereof toward said second end to a slender section;  
 said haft portion comprises a third tapered section between said slender section and said second end; and  
 said third tapered section widens toward the second end.  
 
     
     
         9 . The cue as defined in  claim 8  wherein 
 said first tapered section has an associated variable slope diminishing to zero at said slender section; and  
 said third tapered section has an associated variable slope diminishing to zero at said slender section;  
 such that said first tapered section and said third tapered section merge smoothly at said slender section.  
 
     
     
         10 . The cue as defined in  claim 8  wherein said elongate rod comprises a fourth tapered section adjoining and narrowing toward said second end.  
     
     
         11 . The cue as defined in  claim 10  wherein 
 said third tapered section extends back from the slender section toward said second end to an associated widest part; and  
 said fourth tapered section is contiguous to said third tapered section at said associated widest part and extends back from said associated widest part to said second end.  
 
     
     
         12 . The cue as defined in  claim 11  wherein 
 said fourth tapered section has an associated variable slope diminishing to zero at said associated widest part; and  
 said associated variable slope of said third tapered section diminishes to zero at said associated widest part such that said third tapered section merges smoothly into said fourth tapered section.  
 
     
     
         13 . A butt of a billiard cue assembly for attachment to a shaft of the billiard cue assembly to form a billiard cue, the shaft having a ball striking tip at one end thereof and an attachment means at the opposite end thereof, the butt comprising 
 a mating attachment means at one end thereof for attachment to the attachment means of the shaft to attach the shaft and the butt together;    a second end at the other end thereof; and,    a haft portion extending along two-thirds of the length of the butt from the second end thereof, said haft portion being wider than said tip and having a first tapered section narrowing toward said second end;    such that in use in striking a ball said cue may be held at a position along said haft portion closer to said second end than an associated widest part of said first tapered section.    
     
     
         14 . The butt as defined in  claim 13  wherein said first tapered section extends from said associated widest part thereof to said second end.  
     
     
         15 . The butt as defined in  claim 13  wherein 
 said haft portion has a second tapered section between said ball striking tip and said first tapered section, and  
 said haft portion narrows from an associated widest part of said second tapered section towards said ball striking tip.  
 
     
     
         16 . The cue as defined in  claim 15  wherein said first tapered section and said second tapered section are contiguous.  
     
     
         17 . The butt as defined in  claim 13  wherein said first tapered section has an associated variable slope diminishing to zero at said associated widest part of said first tapered section.  
     
     
         18 . The butt as defined in  claim 17  wherein 
 said haft portion has a second tapered section between said ball striking tip and said first tapered section,  
 said haft portion narrows from an associated widest part of said second tapered section towards said ball striking tip; and  
 said second tapered section has an associated variable slope diminishing to zero at said associated widest part of said second tapered section.  
 
     
     
         19 . The butt as defined in  claim 18  wherein said second tapered section, at said associated widest part thereof, merges with said first tapered section at said associated widest part thereof such that said associated slope of said first tapered section merges smoothly into said associated slope of said second tapered section.  
     
     
         20 . The butt as defined in  claim 13  wherein 
 said first tapered section extends back from said widest part thereof toward said second end to a slender section;  
 said haft portion comprises a third tapered section between said slender section and said second end; and  
 said third tapered section widens toward the second end.  
 
     
     
         21 . The butt as defined in  claim 20  wherein 
 said first tapered section has an associated variable slope diminishing to zero at said slender section; and  
 said third tapered section has an associated variable slope diminishing to zero at said slender section;  
 such that said first tapered section and said third tapered section merge smoothly at said slender section.  
 
     
     
         22 . The butt as defined in  claim 20  further comprising a fourth tapered section adjoining and narrowing toward said second end.  
     
     
         23 . The butt as defined in  claim 22  wherein 
 said third tapered section extends back from the slender section toward said second end to a associated widest part; and  
 said fourth tapered section is contiguous to said third tapered section at said associated widest part and extends back from said associated widest part to said second end.  
 
     
     
         24 . The butt as defined in  claim 23  wherein 
 said fourth tapered section has an associated variable slope diminishing to zero at said associated widest part; and  
 said associated variable slope of said third tapered section diminishes to zero at said associated widest part such that said third tapered section merges smoothly into said fourth tapered section.  
 
     
     
         25 . A grip for surrounding a billiard cue, the billiard cue having a ball striking tip at a first end thereof, and having a haft portion extending along one-third of the length of the cue from a second end thereof, the grip being adapted for mounting on the cue and comprising: 
 an inner surface adapted to retain said grip on the haft portion when said grip is mounted on the cue; and,    an outer surface providing a first tapered section narrowing toward the second end of the cue when the grip is mounted thereon;    such that when said grip is mounted on such a cue, the cue may, in use in striking a ball, be held by the grip at a position on the grip closer to the second end than an associated widest part of said first tapered section of said grip.    
     
     
         26 . The grip as defined in  claim 25  wherein, when said grip is mounted on a cue, said first tapered section extends from said associated widest part thereof to said second end.  
     
     
         27 . The grip as defined in  claim 25  wherein, when said grip is mounted on a cue, 
 a second tapered section is provided between said ball striking tip and said first tapered section, and  
 said second tapered section narrows from an associated widest part of said second tapered section towards said ball striking tip.  
 
     
     
         28 . The grip as defined in  claim 27  wherein, when said grip is mounted on a cue, said first tapered section and said second tapered section are contiguous.  
     
     
         29 . The grip as defined in  claim 25  wherein, when said grip is mounted on a cue, said first tapered section has an associated variable slope diminishing to zero at said associated widest part of said first tapered section.  
     
     
         30 . The grip as defined in  claim 29  wherein, when said grip is mounted on a cue, 
 a second tapered section is provided closer to the ball striking tip than said first tapered section,  
 said second tapered section narrows from an associated widest part thereof towards said ball striking tip; and  
 said second tapered section has an associated variable slope diminishing to zero at said associated widest part of said second tapered section.  
 
     
     
         31 . The grip as defined in  claim 30  wherein, when said grip is mounted on a cue, said second tapered section, at said associated widest part thereof, merges with said first tapered section at said associated widest part thereof such that said associated slope of said first tapered section merges smoothly into said associated slope of said second tapered section.  
     
     
         32 . The grip as defined in  claim 27  wherein, when said grip is mounted on a cue, 
 said first tapered section extends back from said widest part thereof toward said second end to a slender section;  
 a third tapered section is provided between said slender section and said second end; and  
 said third tapered section widens toward the second end.  
 
     
     
         33 . The grip as defined in  claim 32  wherein, when said grip is mounted on a cue, 
 said first tapered section has an associated variable slope diminishing to zero at said slender section; and  
 said third tapered section has an associated variable slope diminishing to zero at said slender section;  
 such that said first tapered section and said third tapered section merge smoothly at said slender section.  
 
     
     
         34 . The grip as defined in  claim 32  wherein, when said grip is mounted on a cue, a fourth tapered section is provided adjoining and narrowing toward said second end.  
     
     
         35 . The grip as defined in  claim 34  wherein, when said grip is mounted on a cue, 
 said third tapered section extends back from the slender section toward said second end to an associated widest part; and  
 said fourth tapered section is contiguous to said third tapered section at said associated widest part and extends back from said associated widest part to said second end.  
 
     
     
         36 . The grip as defined in  claim 35  wherein, when said grip is mounted on a cue, 
 said fourth tapered section has an associated variable slope diminishing to zero at said associated widest part; and  
 said associated variable slope of said third tapered section diminishes to zero at said associated widest part such that said third tapered section merges smoothly into said fourth tapered section.