Cue stick joint

A sports stick comprising:

• a first stick portion having a first joint member secured thereto, the first joint member including a coupling rod having a joint securing male threaded region and a centering pin;
• and
• a second stick portion having a second joint member secured thereto, the second joint member having a cavity for receiving the coupling rod, the receiving cavity including a joint securing female threaded region, a loose fit inner diameter region, and a close fit inner diameter region positioned between the female threaded region and the loose fit inner diameter region, the male threaded region of the coupling rod being engageable with the female threaded region of the receiving cavity for securing the first and second joint members together and the center pin being closely engageable with the close fit inner diameter region, the female threaded region and the loose fit inner diameter region being dimensioned with enough clearance relative to the male threaded region and the centering pin of the coupling rod to allow compensation for misalignment.

A joint for a cue stick having first and second stick portions comprising:

• a first joint member for securing to the fist stick portion, the first joint member including a coupling rod having a joint securing male threaded region and a centering pin;
• and
• a second joint member for securing to the second stick portion, the second joint member having a cavity for receiving the coupling rod, the receiving cavity including a joint securing female threaded region, a loose fit inner diameter region, and a close fit inner diameter region positioned between the female threaded region and the loose fit inner diameter region, the male threaded region of the coupling rod being engageable with the female threaded region of the receiving cavity for securing the first and second joint members together and the centering pin being closely engageable with the close fit inner diameter region, the female threaded region and the loose fit inner diameter region being dimensioned with enough clearance relative to the male threaded region and the centering pin of the coupling rod to allow pivoting of the coupling rod about the close fit inner diameter region to compensate for misalignment, a grippable insert being positioned within the receiving cavity of the second joint member adjacent to the close fit inner diameter region for gripping the centering pin of the first joint member.

A cue stick comprising:

• a first stick portion having a first joint member secured thereto, the fist joint member including a coupling rod having a joint securing male threaded region and a centering pin;
• and
• a second stick portion having a second joint member secured thereto, the second joint member having a cavity for receiving the coupling rod, the receiving cavity including a joint securing female threaded region, a loose fit inner diameter region, and a close fit inner diameter region positioned between the female threaded region and the loose fit inner diameter region, the male threaded region of the coupling rod being engageable with the female threaded region of the receiving cavity for securing the first and second joint member together and the centering pin being closely engageable with the close fit inner diameter region, the female threaded region and the loose fit inner diameter region being dimensioned with enough clearance relative to the male threaded region and the centering pin of the coupling rod to allow pivoting of the coupling rod about the close fit inner diameter region to compensate for misalignment, a grippable insert being positioned within the receiving cavity of the second joint member adjacent to the close fit inner diameter region for gripping the centering pin of the first joint member.

A joint for a sports stick having first and second stick portions comprising:

• a first joint member for securing to the first stick portion, the first joint member including a coupling rod having a joint securing male threaded region and a centering pin;
• and
• a second joint member for securing to the second stick portion, the second joint member having a cavity for receiving the coupling rod, the receiving cavity including a joint securing female threaded region, a loose fit inner diameter region, and a close fit structure comprising a close fit inner diameter region positioned between the female threaded region and the loose fit inner diameter region, the male threaded region of the coupling rod being engageable with the female threaded region of the receiving cavity for securing the first and second joint members together and the centering pin being closely engageable with the close fit structure, the female threaded region being dimensioned with enough clearance relative to the male threaded region and the close fit structure being sufficiently short in length to allow compensation for misalignment, the loose fit inner diameter region being dimensioned with enough clearance relative to the centering pin of the coupling rod to allow pivoting of the coupling rod.

A method of forming a joint for coupling first and second stick portions of a sports stick together comprising:

• forming a first joint member for securing to the first stick portion, the first joint member including a coupling rod having a joint securing male threaded region and a centering pin;
• and
• forming a second joint member for securing to the second stick portion, the second joint member having a cavity for receiving the coupling rod, the receiving cavity including a joint securing female threaded region, a loose fit inner diameter region, and a close fit inner diameter region positioned between the female threaded region and the loose fit inner diameter region, the male threaded region of the coupling rod being engageable with the female threaded region of the receiving cavity for securing the first and second joint members together and the centering pin being closely engageable with the close fit inner diameter region, the female threaded region and the loose fit inner diameter region being dimensioned with enough clearance relative to the male threaded region and the centering pin of the coupling rod to allow compensation for misalignment.

The method of claim 43 further comprising forming the first and second joint members to each include a smooth outer diameter region adjacent to the secondary male threaded region.

A method of forming a joint for coupling first and second stick portions of a sports stick together comprising:

• forming a first joint member for securing to the first stick portion, the first joint member including a coupling rod having a joint securing male threaded region and a centering pin;
• and
• forming a second joint member for securing to the second stick portion, the second joint member having a cavity for receiving the coupling rod, the receiving cavity including a joint securing female threaded region, a loose fit inner diameter region, and a close fit structure comprising a close fit inner diameter region positioned between the female threaded region and the loose fit inner diameter region, the male threaded region of the coupling rod being engageable with the female threaded region of the receiving cavity for securing the first and second joint members together and the centering pin being closely engageable with the close fit structure, the female threaded region being dimensioned with enough clearance relative to the male threaded region and the close fit structure being sufficiently short in length to allow compensation for misalignment, the loose fit inner diameter region being dimensioned with enough clearance relative to the centering pin of the coupling rod to allow pivoting of the coupling rod.