Patent Application
20070207871
Bowling balls are conventionally held with a combination of a bowler's thumb and one or two additional fingers inserted within openings in the ball. Bowling balls are also conventionally formed of one or more relative high durometer or non-yielding materials, which may be resistant to deformation at the level of pressure that can be applied by the player's fingers.
The combination of only one or two fingers opposing the thumb and a non-yielding material can make a bowling ball difficult to grip for a player who may have limited strength or manual dexterity. Control over the direction of roll and the release of the ball can also be difficult with only one or two fingers inserted into the ball. Such lack of strength or control may result from an accident or some form of physical or mental disability or developmental issues.
Improvements to conventional bowling balls are desirable to permit players of limited strength or manual dexterity to participate in bowling.
The present invention relates generally to a bowling ball with at least one grip formed on an outer surface of the bowling ball. The grip includes an elongated finger slot sized to receive all four of the player's fingers and a thumb hole adjacent the finger slot, the finger slot and each thumb hole cooperating to define a grip. The bowling ball may be made of a resilient yielding material which the grip of the player may deform within the finger slot and the thumb holes, providing an improved grip for grasping and using the bowling ball. The present invention also relates to a method of forming a bowling ball with a plurality of grips for a player to grasp. Each grip includes an elongated finger slot for receiving all four of the player's fingers and an adjacent thumb hole. The side walls of the finger slot and thumb holes extend into an interior material of the bowling ball and the interior material yields under the player's fingers and thumb to provide a secure grip.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the description, illustrate several aspects of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. A brief description of the drawings is as follows:
Reference will now be made in detail to the exemplary aspects of the present invention that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.
Ball 10 has an exterior surface material 18, and an interior material 20 which is reachable within each of the finger slot and thumb holes. Materials 18. and 20 may be of different hardnesses or durometers to permit a user to have a yielding grip in material 20 within finger slot 12 and thumb holes 14 or 16 while providing a more durable outer layer of material 18 to resist abrasion and provide a better surface for striking pins or other items at which ball 10 may be directed. Materials 18 and 20 may be the same, with ball 10 being molded or otherwise formed of a single material which is both suitably yielding to aid in a player's grip and sufficiently durable to provide a reasonable usable life.
Finger slots 12 and 32 may be the same size or may vary to provide distinct differences between grips 22 and 24, and grips 38 and 40. Such differences in finger slot size may permit ball 10 to accommodate a broader range of player hand sizes. Alternatively, it may be desirable to provide finger slots 12 and 32 in the same size and rely on spacing and size of thumb holes 14, 16, 34 and 36 to provide different grip options for the player. It may be desirable to adapt the slot and hole sizes of a first ball 10 to accommodate relatively small hand sizes and adapt the slot and holes sizes of a second ball 10 to accommodate relatively larger hand sizes.
If different thumb hole sizes or spacings and/or finger slot sizes are used, it may be desirable to provide an easily visible indication of the distinct grips 22, 24, 38 and 40, respectively. In the embodiment shown, a color coded ring 42 is provided about each of the thumb holes 14, 16, 34 and 36. Such visual indicia may also be used to distinguish any different spacings between the thumb holes and the finger slots. Other visible indication may also be used, such as a numbering system.
As can be seen in
Within each thumb hole 14, 16, 34 and 36 and finger slot 12 and 32, a player's fingers or thumb may be in contact with interior material 20, which may provide a resilient and yielding grip surface. Finger slots 12 and 32 are illustrated with sloping side walls 44 tapering to a base 46 which is narrower than the entry into slot 12 or 32. Thumb holes 14, 16, 34 and 36 are shown with generally straight side walls 48 defining a generally constant diameter hole. It is anticipated that finger slots 12 and 32 could be configured with generally straight side walls. It is also anticipated that thumb holes 14, 16, 34 and 36 may be configured with tapering side walls. As shown, finger slots 12 and 32 extend radially into ball 10 while thumb holes 14, 16, 34 and 36 are splayed slightly from radial as may be desired to provide an appropriate grip. It is anticipated that thumb holes 14, 16, 34 and 36 may also be radial openings. It is also anticipated that finger slots 12 and 32 may be angled away from radial if desired to provide an appropriate grip.
The embodiments of the inventions disclosed herein have been discussed for the purpose of familiarizing the reader with novel aspects of the present invention. Although preferred embodiments have been shown and described, many changes, modifications, and substitutions may be made by one having skill in the art without unnecessarily departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Having described preferred aspects and embodiments of the present invention, modifications and equivalents of the disclosed concepts may readily occur to one skilled in the art. However, it is intended that such modifications and equivalents be included within the scope of the claims which are appended hereto.
