Abstract:
The present invention contemplates an improved ball ramp assembly that enables even the most severely handicapped bowler to guide and accelerate a bowling ball toward the intended bowling pins. The bowling ramp assembly includes a ramp having a ball guide defining a ball path along the ramp, a base coupled to a proximal end of the ramp for supporting the ramp, a ball release coupled to the ramp for selectively controlling travel of the ball along the ramp, and a positioning assembly coupled to the ramp for adjusting the orientation of the ramp. The ball release includes a ball stopping member that moves between a ball blocking position and a ball releasing position. The positioning assembly includes at least one motor coupled to the ramp and a wheel located at the distal end of the ramp. The ball release and positioning assembly are both controlled by switches which may be located remotely from the ramp.

Description:
This application relies on the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/075,039, filed on Feb. 19, 1998, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to ball ramp assemblies and, more particularly, to bowling ramp assemblies designed for use by bowlers having limited use of their arms or hands. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     A number of inventions exist which are aimed at helping the disabled to bowl. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,358,447 to Erickson; 4,097,045 to Bechtel; 4,368,898 to Lay; and 4,441,710 to Lay all show bowling ramps which can be placed on the front of a wheelchair or on a support structure which a person stands behind. These ramps require the person to have some sort of mobility in the arms and hands in order to place the bowling ball on the ramp, hold the ball while the ramp is positioned in the desired direction for bowling, and then release the ball in order that the ball will roll down the ramp towards the pins. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,358,446 to Bergman shows a bowling ramp in which the top of the ramp is horizontal. In this design, a person does not need to hold the ball to prevent it from inadvertently falling down the ramp, but does need to provide a pushing force in order to direct or initiate movement of the ball down the ramp. All of these known devices could not be used by a person that does not have adequate control of their arms or hands to hold the ball and release it down the ramp, or to push the ball down the ramp. 
     Further, the bowling ramp assemblies of the relevant art fail to provide a ramp positioning assembly that adequately takes into account the infirmities of the handicapped bowler. For example, Bergman discloses a bowling ramp having a clamp assembly located at the bottom back end of the ramp that allows the bowler to reposition the ramp to target specific bowling pins without shifting the entire ramp. Such an arrangement is impracticable for those disabled bowlers that lack the strength and dexterity to release the clamp assembly, reposition the ramp, and fix the clamp assembly. 
     Even assuming a handicapped bowler is capable of repositioning the ramp of Bergman, the location of the clamp assembly at the bottom back end of the ramp makes it difficult for such a bowler to access it. This location is particularly cumbersome for bowlers restricted to a wheelchair. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the invention is to provide a ball ramp assembly that enables even the most severely handicapped bowler to guide and accelerate a bowling ball toward the bowling pins. It should be understood that the invention could still be practiced without performing this preferred object. 
     Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. 
     To achieve the objects and in accordance with the purposes of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, the invention comprises a ramp assembly for guiding and accelerating a ball. The ramp assembly includes a ramp having a proximal end, a distal end, and a ball guide, the ball guide defining a ball path along the ramp, a base coupled to the proximal end of the ramp for supporting the ramp, a ball release coupled to the ramp for selectively controlling travel of the ball along the ramp, and a positioning assembly coupled to the ramp for adjusting the orientation of the ramp. 
     In accordance with another aspect, the present invention also comprises a ramp assembly for guiding and accelerating a ball. This ramp assembly includes a ramp having a proximal end, a distal end, and a ball guide, the ball guide defining a ball path down the ramp, a base located at the proximal end of the ramp for supporting the ramp, a ball release coupled to the ramp, the ball release including a stopping member movable between a blocking position restricting the ball from traveling along the ball guide, and a releasing position allowing the ball unrestricted travel along the ball guide, and a switch coupled to the ball release for selectively controlling the position of the stopping member. 
     In accordance with yet another aspect, the present invention again comprises a ramp assembly for guiding and accelerating a ball. The ramp assembly includes a ramp having a proximal end, a distal end, and a ball guide, the ball guide defining a ball path along the ramp, a base located at the proximal end of the ramp for supporting the ramp, and a motor driven positioning assembly coupled to the ramp for adjusting the orientation of the ramp. 
     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed. 
     The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate several embodiments of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a ramp assembly according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a partial exploded view of the ramp and control box of the ramp assembly of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3A is a side view of the of the ramp assembly of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3B is a top view of the ramp assembly of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3C is a front view of the ramp assembly of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4A-4C are top views of the ramp assembly of FIG. 1 at different ramp orientations; 
     FIG. 5A is a side view of a ramp assembly according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 5B is a top view of the ramp assembly of FIG. 5A; 
     FIG. 5C is a front view of the ramp assembly of FIG. 5A; 
     FIG. 6A-6C are top views of the ramp assembly of FIG. 5A at different ramp orientations; 
     FIG. 7A is a side view of a ramp assembly according to a third embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 7B is a top view of the ramp assembly of FIG. 7A; 
     FIG. 7C is a front view of the ramp assembly of FIG. 7A; and 
     FIG. 8 is a top view of the ramp assembly of FIG. 7A at different ramp orientations. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which 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. 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a ramp assembly according to a first embodiment of the present invention is generally indicated at  10  and includes a ramp  12  formed from two identical rails  14  and  16 . Each rail is comprised of two sub-rails  14   a  and  14   b  and  16   a  and  16   b  (FIG.  2 ). These rails may be, for example, made of ¾ inch metal tubing and joined together by a straight joiner tube  18 . A cross bar  20  joins rails  14  and  16  together at the top, proximal end of ramp  12 . Cross bar  20  is connected to rail members  14  and  16  by, for example, a union elbow (not shown). A plurality of support bars  22  are spaced along rails  14 ,  16  and provide rigid support to the rails. Rails  14 ,  16  are spaced at a proper distance to form a ball guide which defines a ball path along ramp  12 . 
     A positioning assembly  30  is secured to the lower, distal portion of ramp  12 , while a ball release  40  is mounted to the upper, proximal portion of ramp  12 . An electric motor  32  is part of the positioning assembly  30  and is used to position ramp  12  at a desired angle of orientation. Release mechanism  40  holds a bowling ball  100  on ramp  12  and releases the ball at a desired time. A control box  52  is electrically connected to the electric motor  32  and ball release  40  for control purposes. A ramp base  60  is pivotally connected to the ramp  12  to support the ramp at the proper height and allow ramp  12  to move with respect to the base upon actuation of electric motor  32 . 
     Ball release  40  is shown in detail in FIG.  2  and includes a solenoid  42  and a stopping member  44 . Stopping member  44  is located along the ball guide formed by rails  14 , 16  at a location distal with respect to an initial, starting position of ball  100 . Stopping member  44  rides through cutout sections  46  in rails  14  and  16 . Solenoid  42  is secured to ramp  12  by side plates  48 . A spring  50  biases the stopping member  44  into a blocking position to hold the ball on the ramp. When the solenoid  42  is activated, the stopping member  44  is retracted out of the way of the ball, and the ball is released down the ball guide formed by rails  14 , 16  of ramp  12 . This position of stopping member  44  is the releasing position. 
     Ball release  40  includes, for example, a 12 V DC solenoid motor  42  which drives a shaft. The shaft is connected to stopping member  44  which engages the ball on ramp  12 . Thus, when solenoid  42  is off (inactive), stopping member  44  is fully extended. When solenoid  42  is activated, stopping member  44  is retracted to permit the ball to travel down the ramp. 
     Also shown in FIG. 2, positioning assembly  30  includes an electric motor drive system having an electric motor  32  and a drive wheel  34 . Electric motor  32  may be, for example, a 3.6 V DC reversible motor with a ¼ inch drive shaft. Attached to a distal end of the motor shaft is wheel  34 . Wheel  34  may be, for example, a 5 inch diameter rubber wheel caster having a width of 2 inches. Electric motor  32  is reversible so that the ramp can be driven leftward or rightward to position the ramp at the desired angle of orientation. Motor  32  is positioned just above the bowling lane so as not to make contact. Wheel  34  is of such diameter that it makes contact with the lane while holding the distal ends of ramp  12  slightly above and off the lane. 
     FIG. 2 also shows ball release  40  and positioning assembly  30  connected to the control box  52 . The control box  52  preferably includes three switches. The outer two switches  54 ,  56  preferably control electric motor  32 , while the middle switch  58  preferably controls solenoid  42  of the ball release  40 . When the left-most switch  56  is pushed, the motor  32  turns such that ramp  12  is pivoted about base  60  toward the left. When the right-most switch  54  is pushed, the motor  32  turns such that ramp  12  pivots about base  60  toward the left. When the middle switch  58  is pushed, solenoid  42  retracts stopping member  44  in order to release the ball. 
     As shown in FIGS. 3A-3C, ramp base  60  includes a top cross bar  62  with a pivot support bracket  64  mounted thereon. Cross bar  20  of ramp  12  is pivotally mounted to base  60  by support bracket  64 . For example, a hole may be formed in cross bar  20 , and a pin or bolt inserted through the hole and pivot support bracket  64  to allow for the pivoting motion of ramp  12  with respect to base  60 . Ramp base  60  may be formed of, for example, various straight sections of EMT tubing having ¾ inch diameter and 0.049 inch thickness. Other materials can be used for ramp base  60  (and ramp  12 ) as long as the material is of adequate size and strength to provide support for the ball during operation of the ramp. 
     As mentioned above, control box  52  preferably includes three control switches  54 ,  56 ,  58 . These switches may be button type switches (as shown in FIGS.  1  and  2 ), puff type switches, or head position controlled switches. The puff and head position controlled switches are described in more detail below. The circuit configuration between control box  52 , ball release  42 , and positioning assembly  30  is of a standard configuration and within the knowledge of one of ordinary skill in the art. Control switches  54 ,  56 ,  58  are normally open switches. The rotational speed of electric motor  32  should be slow enough to pivot ramp  12  very slowly such that the bowler will be able to precisely align ramp  12  in the desired orientation. An electric motor that is too fast will cause ramp  12  to be over-positioned, and will thus require constant readjustment of the ramp positioning in order to be an effective bowling device. 
     By way of example only, the dimensions of ramp assembly  10  may be as follows. Looking to FIGS. 3A-3C, each rail  14 ,  16  may be formed such that the ramp  12  has a  10  inch horizontal distal section  24 , a 57 inch inclined section  26 , and a 9 inch horizontal upper section  28  (which is slightly inclined toward the distal end of the ramp so that the ball will not sit on the ramp when stopping member  44  is retracted). Rails  14  and  16  are separated by a distance of 8 inches. Rails  14  and  16  could be made of plurality of straight sections joined together to form the ramp, or a single rail formed with necessary curvature to allow the ball to role along the rails. 
     The height of ramp base  60  is preferably 30 inches and the width is 36 inches so as to allow a person sitting in a wheelchair to be positioned under the rear of ramp assembly  10  near where the ball is supported on the ramp. At this height, a person in the wheelchair can easily eye the ramp&#39;s position and determine the trajectory in which the ball would take upon release. Four rubber tips  66  (FIG. 3A) are connected to the bottoms of ramp base  60  in order to cushion and prevent slippage of the base on the bowling alley floor. FIG. 3C shows a front view of the ramp with bowling ball  100  supported thereon. 
     Several positions of ramp assembly  10  of the first embodiment are shown in FIGS. 4A-4C. Ramp  12  is pivoted towards the left, center and right of the lane to project ball  100  along the intended direction. A person sitting or standing behind ramp base  60  would not interfere with or be interfered by the pivoting movement of ramp  12  because base  60  remains stationary. 
     A second embodiment of the ramp assembly is shown in FIGS. 5A-5C. Instead of orientating ramp  12  by an electric motor  32  and driven wheel  34 , as set forth in the first embodiment, the second embodiment uses two motors  70 ,  72  connected to base  60  on each side of the ramp  12 . Each motor  70 ,  72  is connected by a wire  74 ,  76  to a pivot bar  78  secured at a distal portion of ramp  12 . Electric motors  70 ,  72  pull or release the respective wires  74 ,  76  in order to pivot ramp  12  into the desired position. A wheel  80  or some other well known assembly or device can be used to support ramp  12  and pivot bar  78  so that the ramp can easily move along the lane. 
     The ball release  40  and the three switch control box  52  of the first embodiment are the same as those of the second embodiment. Activation of right switch button  54  causes motor  72  to pull in the wire  76 , while motor  74  would be driven such that its respective wire  78  would be released an equal amount. Various positions of the ramp assembly according to the second embodiment are shown in FIGS. 6A-6C. 
     FIGS. 7A-7C illustrate a third embodiment of the invention. Here, ramp  12  is rigidly fixed to ramp base  60 , and the whole is pivoted about a point  90  positioned on one side of base  60 . An electric motor  92  connected to a wheel  94  is provided at another side of base  60  to drive ramp  12  and base  60  about pivot point  90  in order to position ramp  12  at the desired orientation. The ball release and control box of the third embodiment are the same as those disclosed in the first embodiment. Pivot bar  78  and wheel assembly  80  of the third embodiment are the same at those described with respect to the second embodiment. FIG. 8 shows the third embodiment of the present invention in various positions about pivot point  90 . 
     Referring back to the first embodiment, in use, a person in a wheelchair would have someone place bowling ball  100  on upper horizontal section  28  of ramp  12  such that the ball is positioned up against stopping member  44 . The person in the wheelchair would then position himself behind ramp base support  60  such that he/she has a clear view of the bowling lane from behind bowling ball  100  on ramp assembly  10 . The bowler would then push one of the outside two switches  54 ,  56  to control electric motor  32  such that the ramp is pivoted to the desired position. When the desired position is attained, the bowler would then push middle switch  58  in order to activate solenoid  42  to release bowling ball  100  down ramp  12  and onto the lane towards the pins. 
     Because of the light weight and portability of the bowling mechanism of the present invention, the mechanism can easily be removed from the lane in order that a person not needing the bowling ramp device can bowl. 
     In order that a person having severely limited use of his arms and hands can use the ball ramp assembly, control box  52  can be modified to include jacks into which can be plugged any type of ability switches normally used by persons with disabilities, for example, puff switches (not shown). The puff switches allow for the bowler to use his/her breath (positive or negative air pressure from the mouth) to produce the signals to control motor  32  or solenoid  42 . In one embodiment, two puff switches can be used. One puff switch signals whether the user is blowing or sucking in the puff switch to control the left or right directional movement of the motor. The other puff switch detects a change in pressure (either negative from sucking or positive from blowing) in order to activate solenoid  42  and release ball  100 . Three puff switches can be used—two for each of the right and left control switches  54 ,  56  and one for solenoid  42 . 
     In yet another embodiment, a head position controlled switch (not shown) can be used in which leftward movement of the head will duplicate the signal of the left side control switch, while rightward movement will duplicate the signal from the right side control switch. This type of head position control switch typically uses mercury switches to close an electrical circuit whenever the head is pivoted beyond a specified angle. One such mercury head control device is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,567,479 to Boyd, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. Forward movement of the head will duplicate the signal from middle control switch  58 . The head position controlled switch can be used in combination with a puff switch such that leftward and rightward motion of the head can be used to drive positioning motor  32 , while the puff switch can be used to activate solenoid  42  of ball release  40 . 
     In both the puff switch and the head position controlled switch embodiments above, the puff switches and the head position controlled switch can be connected in parallel to left-middle-right switches  56 ,  58 ,  54  of control box  52 , or left-middle-right switches  56 ,  58 ,  54  can be eliminated completely and replaced with the puff switches and/or the head position controlled switch. The preferred embodiment uses both the left-middle-right switches  56 ,  58 ,  54  of control box  52  and input jacks on the control box for puff switches or a head control device. 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made with respect to the control aspects of the present invention and in construction of the ball ramp without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. As an example, the control box may be coupled to the ramp apparatus only by way of wireless signals, such as UF or infrared signal. Thus, control of the ramp assembly could be remotely controlled by a bowler who is unable to be positioned adjacent to the ramp assembly. 
     Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the following claims.