I just noticed that Ralf placed tip covers over his break and playing cue before putting his cues away.I have seen players spin the tips on the carpet and wipe them off with a towel and even put them away dirty(yuck).
This is the first time I have seen these.
Here are some similar to the ones Ralf had.
http://www.cuestik.com/store/product.asp?DEPARTMENT_ID=169&ITEM_ID=6234
And Nancy Cote (of Cue-Z / FingerSlides fame) makes them as well:
http://cuezctc.com/pb/wp_b9d5ae50/wp_b9d5ae50.html
In this old "What's in the case?" series, Ralf Souquet shows and discusses these custom tip protectors (he calls them "case protectors") that his Dad made for him:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=42yd7Q4hu_w
-Sean
Here are some similar to the ones Ralf had.
http://www.cuestik.com/store/product.asp?DEPARTMENT_ID=169&ITEM_ID=6234