Tip Plate for a Billiards Cue

Abstract

A cue stick ( 100 ) utilizes a tip plate ( 120 ) directly attached to the tip ( 110 ) and shaft of a cue stick ( 100 ). The tip plate may be constructed of a lightweight, high stiffness material, such as a carbon fiber composite or resin material. A tip plate ( 120 ) may increase the durability and strength of adhesion of the tip ( 110 ) to the remainder of the cue stick ( 100 ), while decreasing the mass of the tip ( 110 ) end relative to other attachment methods utilized in the prior art.

1 . A cue stick comprising:
 a shaft with a cavity at a distal end;   a high stiffness, lightweight tip plate attached to the distal end of the shaft; and   a tip attached to the tip plate for striking a ball.   
   
   
       2 . The cue stick of  claim 1 , wherein the tip plate weighs less than about 0.6 grams and exhibits substantially no deflection under a force less than about 1200 pounds. 
   
   
       3 . The cue stick of  claim 2 , wherein the tip plate exhibits substantially no deflection under a force less than about 800 pounds. 
   
   
       4 . The cue stick of  claim 2 , wherein the tip plate weighs less than about 0.3 grams. 
   
   
       5 . The cue stick of  claim 1 , wherein the tip plate is comprised of carbon fibers. 
   
   
       6 . The cue stick of  claim 1 , wherein the tip plate is comprised of at least one of Kevlar®, beryllium, magnesium, boron, and titanium. 
   
   
       7 . The cue stick of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft is comprised of a composite material where the shaft directly attaches to the tip plate. 
   
   
       8 . The cue stick of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft is comprised of wood. 
   
   
       9 . The cue stick of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft has a bore extending from a tip-end of the shaft. 
   
   
       10 . The cue stick of  claim 1 , wherein the tip is comprised of phenolic. 
   
   
       11 . The cue stick of  claim 1 , wherein the tip is comprised of leather composite. 
   
   
       12 . The cue stick of  claim 1 , wherein the tip plate is configured as a disk. 
   
   
       13 . The cue stick of  claim 1 , wherein the tip plate is configured with an extending lip. 
   
   
       14 . A section of a cue stick used to strike a ball comprising:
 a shaft with a cavity at a distal end;   a high stiffness, lightweight tip plate attached to the distal end of the shaft; and   a tip attached to the tip plate for striking a ball.   
   
   
       15 . The cue stick of  claim 14 , wherein the tip plate weighs less than about 0.6 grams and exhibits substantially no deflection under a force less than about 1100 pounds. 
   
   
       16 . The section of the cue stick of  claim 15 , wherein tip plate is comprised of carbon fibers. 
   
   
       17 . The section of the cue stick of  claim 14 , wherein the shaft is comprised of a composite material where the shaft directly attaches to the tip plate. 
   
   
       18 . The section of the cue stick of  claim 14 , wherein the tip plate is configured as a disk. 
   
   
       19 . The section of a cue stick of  claim 14 , wherein the tip plate is configured with an extending lip. 
   
   
       20 . A method of reducing ball deflection during a off-center ball strike, comprising:
 providing a cue stick comprising a shaft with a cavity at its distal end, and a tip plate directly attached to the tip of the cue stick and the distal end of the shaft; and   striking the ball with the cue stick by propelling the cue stick in a line-like direction that does not travel through the center of mass of the ball, whereby the ball travels with a trajectory having less ball deflection than if the cue stick did not have the tip plate.