Mechanical Cue Stick Device

Abstract

A mechanical cue stick device for striking a cue ball without action of an arm includes a tube, a rod and an actuator. The tube has a first end that is closed and a second end that is open. The rod is slidably coupled to the tube and is selectively extensible from the second end of the tube. The actuator is coupled to and positioned within the tube proximate to the first end. The actuator is operationally coupled to the rod so that the actuator is positioned to forcibly extend the rod from the tube. A switch that is operationally coupled to the actuator is coupled to the tube so that the switch is positioned proximate to a digit of a hand that grasps the tube. The switch is configured to be switched to actuate the actuator to forcibly extend the rod from the tube to strike a cue ball.

1 . A mechanical cue stick device comprising:
 a tube having a first end and a second end, the first end being closed and the second end being open;   a rod slidably coupled to the tube and selectively extensible from the second end of the tube;   an actuator coupled to and positioned within the tube proximate to the first end, the actuator being operationally coupled to the rod such that the actuator is positioned for forcibly extending the rod from the tube, the actuator comprising a spring, the spring being coil type such that the spring is tensioned as the rod is inserted into the tube positioning the spring for rebounding for forcibly extending the rod from the tube;   a switch operationally coupled to the actuator, the switch being coupled to the tube such that the switch is positioned proximate to a digit of a hand grasping the tube wherein the switch is configured for switching for actuating the actuator for forcibly extending the rod from the tube for striking a cue ball, the switch comprising a trigger pivotally coupled to the tube, the trigger being spring loaded such that the trigger is biased to a default position wherein a terminal section of the trigger extends into the tube through a hole positioned in the tube, the trigger having a first section extending from a pivot point of the trigger and a second section extending from the pivot point of the trigger in an opposite direction from the first section, the first section being L-shaped, the section section having a curved outwardly facing surface, the outwardly facing surface being curved such that the outwardly facing surface extends away from the tube as the outwardly facing surface extends away from the pivot point of the trigger; and   a set of cutouts extending into the rod proximate to a first terminus of the rod such that each cutout is selectively alignable with the hole positioning the cutout and the hole for inserting the terminal section of the trigger such that the rod is selectively fixedly positionable within the tube with the spring having an associated tension wherein the trigger is configured for triggering by the digit of the hand grasping the tube for extracting the terminal section from the cutout such that the rod is forcibly extended from the tube.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , further including the first end being circumferentially larger than the second end such that the tube is tapered. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , further including a bumper coupled to the first end of the tube wherein the bumper is configured for protecting the tube from impact damage. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , further including the bumper comprising at least one of rubber and leather. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , further including the rod and the tube comprising at least one of wood, metal, and plastic. 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , further including the set of cutouts comprising from one to ten cutouts. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , further including the set of cutouts comprising three cutouts. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a flare coupled to and extending radially from a first terminus of the rod such that the flare is slidable along an inner surface of the tube; and   a lip coupled to the second end of the tube, the lip extending inwardly such that the rod is slidable across the lip and such that the flare and the lip prevent contact of the rod with the inner surface of the tube.   
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a ferrule coupled to a second terminus of the rod wherein the ferrule is configured for bearing an impact from the rod contacting the cue ball; and   a tip coupled to the ferrule wherein the tip is configured for contacting the cue ball as the rod is forcibly extended from the tube.   
     
     
         12 . A mechanical cue stick device comprising:
 a tube having a first end and a second end, the first end being closed and the second end being open, the first end being circumferentially larger than the second end such that the tube is tapered;   a bumper coupled to the first end of the tube wherein the bumper is configured for protecting the tube from impact damage, the bumper comprising at least one of rubber and leather;   a rod slidably coupled to the tube and selectively extensible from the second end of the tube, the rod and the tube comprising at least one of wood, metal, and plastic;   an actuator coupled to and positioned within the tube proximate to the first end, the actuator being operationally coupled to the rod such that the actuator is positioned for forcibly extending the rod from the tube, the actuator comprising a spring, the spring being coil type such that the spring is tensioned as the rod is inserted into the tube positioning the spring for rebounding for forcibly extending the rod from the tube;   a switch operationally coupled to the actuator, the switch being coupled to the tube such that the switch is positioned proximate to a digit of a hand grasping the tube wherein the switch is configured for switching for actuating the actuator for forcibly extending the rod from the tube for striking a cue ball, the switch comprising a trigger pivotally coupled to the tube, the trigger being spring loaded such that the trigger is biased to a default position wherein a terminal section of the trigger extends into the tube through a hole positioned in the tube, the trigger having a first section extending from a pivot point of the trigger and a second section extending from the pivot point of the trigger in an opposite direction from the first section, the first section being L-shaped, the section section having a curved outwardly facing surface, the outwardly facing surface being curved such that the outwardly facing surface extends away from the tube as the outwardly facing surface extends away from the pivot point of the trigger;   a set of cutouts extending into the rod proximate to a first terminus of the rod such that each cutout is selectively alignable with the hole positioning the cutout and the hole for inserting the terminal section of the trigger such that the rod is selectively fixedly positionable within the tube with the spring having an associated tension wherein the trigger is configured for triggering by the digit of the hand grasping the tube for extracting the terminal section from the cutout such that the rod is forcibly extended from the tube, the set of cutouts comprising from one to ten cutouts, the three cutouts;   a flare coupled to and extending radially from the first terminus of the rod such that the flare is slidable along an inner surface of the tube;   a lip coupled to the second end of the tube, the lip extending inwardly such that the rod is slidable across the lip and such that the flare and the lip prevent contact of the rod with the inner surface of the tube;   a ferrule coupled to a second terminus of the rod wherein the ferrule is configured for bearing an impact from the rod contacting the cue ball; and   a tip coupled to the ferrule wherein the tip is configured for contacting the cue ball as the rod is forcibly extended from the tube.