Patent Application
20110009201
Not applicable
Not applicable
1. Field of the Invention
The ADAPT-A-BOWL device is designed to be used by handicapped students of all ages anywhere in a school environment who use or rely on a wheelchair or gate trainer. The ADAPT-A-BOWL is designed as a three-piece unit so teachers can assemble and disassemble it in a matter of minutes. A lightweight ball is released by a lever handle which projects the ball down the ramp to knock down plastic bowling pins. The three-piece design helps the special education teacher to pack the unit into a storage bag and move from one school location to another.
2. Description of Prior Art
As seen with the following patents, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,042,482; 6,227,981 B1; 3,159,401, all of the prior art devices are intended to use for bowlers with mild to moderate physical disabilities. They do not take consider the severely disabled individual who may want to partake in bowling activities. These individuals often have greater difficulty extending their arms or legs fully to push a bowling ball down a ramp or opening their hands completely to grasp, pull, and release a handle.
In U.S. Pat. No. 3,159,401, Mr. Ikenberry shows how a person with moderate physical disabilities must place a bowling ball on the level portion of the ramp and then push the ball to initiate its movement down the ramp, onto the bowling lane, and toward the pins. This pushing action may be quite difficult for a person with severe disabilities who does not possess the strength to control the weight of a bowling ball. The following two U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,227,981 and 6,042,482 focus on a power control release mechanism or a pull-push lever to activate a bowling ball down a ramp. Both prior art devices require a person with severe disabilities to have the physical strength and coordination to operate the device successfully. These prior art devices fail to accommodate those with severe disabilities who have a more limited range of motion. Furthermore, all of these prior art devices appear to be constructed from tubular steel that may make it difficult for individuals with severe disabilities to adjust for accuracy in rolling the bowling ball down the ramp.
One embodiment of the Adapt-A-Bowl is to mount a lightweight ball on the lever rack whereby a student with physical disabilities raises the handle of the lever and sends the ball down the ramp toward a set of plastic bowling pins.
Another aspect of the Adapt-A-Bowl design is its capability to be a portable unit consisting of three main parts,
The Adapt-A-Bowl is a lightweight and durable unit that is easily transported to various locations including but not limited to schools, hospitals, daycare centers, and homes. This ease of transport increases the access of individuals with severe disabilities who use wheelchairs and gait trainers to participate in a variety of sporting activities. It is preferred that this device be used with individuals who have difficulty manipulating their arms, hands, legs or other extremities similarly to their peers so that they can enjoyably participate in various sports alongside their peers.
The title page of the Adapt-A-Bowl shows a perspective view of the device demonstrating how a lightweight ball is placed on the lever handle and ready to be sent down the ramp.
In referring to the drawings,
Varying measurements of inside diameter PVC are used to complete the device.
Although the preferred range of inside diameter PVC for this device is within ½″-¾″, similar devices can successfully be constructed using the following i.d. PVC ranges: a) ⅜″-½″ and, b) ¾″-1″. In the previous description of inside diameter PVC where ½″ i.d. PVC is noted, one would substitute ⅜″ i.d. PVC for range A and ¾″ i.d. PVC for range B. Similarly, where ¾″ is noted in the previous description of i.d. PVC, one would substitute ½″ i.d. PVC for range A and 1″ i.d. PVC for range B.
