Weighted arm band for bowlers

A device for improving motion, extension and control of an arm of a person playing a game such as bowling comprising a band of flexible material having an inner surface which is in firm contact with the arm of the person in the area of the wrist and above the hand when the device is worn during use and having an oppositely-directed outer surface. A weight is fixedly held on the outer surface of the band and comprises a quantity of closely-packed metal pellets within a flexible container. A pair of loop-like elements are fixed in spaced relation to the band along one end thereof, and a pair of flexible straps extend in spaced-apart, generally parallel relation outwardly from the opposite end of the band. Each of the straps is provided with a fastener on the outer surface thereof, and a pair of mating fasteners is provided on the outer surface of the band. When the device is worn for use each of the straps extends from the end of the band laterally along the surface of the person's arm, extends through a corresponding one of the loops, and then is returned back past the end of the band to be in mating engagement with the fastener on the band, each strap serving to draw the band tightly against the surface of the person's arm.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to the art of athletic goods, and more particularly 
to a new and improved device for improving the motion, extension and 
control of the arm of a person playing a game such as bowling. 
One area of use of the present invention is in the game of bowling, 
although the principles of the present invention can be variously applied. 
In games such as bowling, the arm action of the player is of primary 
importance. For example, as the player swings his arms during delivery of 
the bowling ball he must control the swing, try for full extension of the 
arm, keep any turning action on the ball under control and avoid 
over-turning, release the ball properly and try for a good follow-through. 
The foregoing obviously requires much practice and concentration by the 
player. It would, therefore, be highly desirable to provide a device worn 
on the arm of a bowler for improving the motion, extension and control of 
the bowler's arm. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is, therefore, a primary object of this invention to provide a new and 
improved device for improving the motion, extension and control of the arm 
of a person playing a game such as bowling. 
It is a more particular object of this invention to provide such a device 
which enhances the pendulum-like motion of the person's arm when carrying 
and delivering a bowling ball during the game. 
It is a more particular object of this invention to provide such a device 
which encourages a full extension of the person's arm when carrying and 
delivering a bowling ball during the game. 
It is a more particular object of this invention to provide such a device 
which controls the amount of turning of the ball during the bowler's arm 
swing. 
It is a further object of this invention to provide such a device which is 
comfortable to wear, simple in construction and economical to manufacture. 
The present invention provides a device for improving the motion, extension 
and control of the arm of a person playing a game such as bowling 
comprising a band of flexible material of generally rectangular shape and 
having an inner surface which is in firm contact with the arm of the 
person in the area of the wrist and above the hand when the device is in 
use and an oppositely-directed outer surface, and a weight held on the 
outer surface of the band in fixed relation thereto and being of 
sufficient magnitude so as to improve the arm action of the person by 
enhancing the arm motion, causing fuller extension of the arm and 
providing control of arm movements. A pair of loop elements are fixed to 
the band in space relation along one end edge thereof, and a pair of 
flexible straps is fixed to the band at the opposite end thereof, the 
straps extending therefrom in spaced relation. There is provided fastening 
means on each of the straps and mating fastening means on the outer 
surface of the band in general longitudinal alignment with the fastening 
means on the straps. When the device is in use each of the straps extends 
from the end edge of the band along the surface of the person's arm and 
laterally of the arm and extends further through a corresponding one of 
the loops and then returns back past the end edge to the region of the 
corresponding one of the mating fastening means. As a result, each strap 
draws the band tightly against the surface of the person's arm and is held 
firmly in place by engagement between the fastening means on the strap and 
the corresponding one of the mating fastening means on the band. 
The foregoing and additional advantages and characterizing features of the 
present invention will become clearly apparent upon a reading of the 
ensuing detailed description together with the included drawing wherein:

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT 
Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a device generally designated 10 
according to the present invention for improving the motion, extension and 
control of the arm of a person playing a game such as bowling. The device 
10 is shown in FIG. 1 in a position of use, releasably fastened to the arm 
12 of the user, and located on the arm in the area of the wrist and above 
the users hand 14. 
Referring now in detail to FIGS. 2-5, the device 10 comprises a band 20 of 
flexible material having a generally rectangular shape including 
spaced-apart substantially parallel side edges 22,24 and space-apart 
substantially parallel end edges 26 and 28. The material of band 20 should 
provide sufficient flexibility to comfortably conform to the outer surface 
of the arm of the user and at the same time have a significant degree of 
strength. For example, various hides, natural or synthetic, and leather 
can be employed but other suitable materials can be used. By way of 
example, one material found to perform well is the synthetic material 
known commercially as Naugahide. Band 20 has a thickness many times 
smaller than the length and width thereof as illustrated further in FIGS. 
2 and 3. The band 20 has an inner surface, and when the device is in use 
this surface is in firm contact with the arm 12 of the person in the area 
of the wrist and above the hand 14. The band also includes an oppositely 
directed outer surface. Band 20 preferably comprises two sheets 20a,20b of 
material secured together, for example by stitching, about the peripheral 
edges so as to be of a laminated construction. According to a preferred 
mode of the present invention, band 20 preferably has a length measured 
along either edge 22 or 24 of about 57/8 inches, a width measured along 
either edge 26 or 28 of about 43/4 inches and a thickness of about 
one-eighth inch. Other sizes are well as materials and construction of the 
band 20 can of course be employed. 
The device 10 of the present invention further comprises a weight 30 of 
sufficient magnitude so as to improve the arm action of the person wearing 
the device by enhancing the arm motion, causing fuller extension of the 
arm and providing control of arm movements. The device 10 also includes 
means for holding the weight 30 on the outer surface of band 20 in fixed 
relation thereto. In particular, as shown in detail in FIG. 3, weight 30 
comprises a quantity of metal pellets such as metal shot, lead pellets or 
metal particles of the size commonly used in air guns and the like. The 
pellets or particles are housed in a container in relatively closely 
packed relation as shown in FIG. 3. The weight holding means comprises a 
first container 32 of flexible material having a generally rectangular 
perimeter and enclosing the quantity of pellets 30. The container 32 is of 
relatively thin-walled construction, and container 32 conveniently can be 
in the form of a flat thin-walled plastic bag or pouch which is heat 
sealed, sewn or otherwise closed around the periphery thereof after having 
been filled with the pellets 30. 
The weight holding means further comprises a second container of flexible 
material having a generally rectangular perimeter and enclosing the first 
container 32. The two containers are in relatively close fitting relation, 
and the second container has a thickness greater than the thickness of the 
first container 32 as illustrated in FIG. 3. The second container is 
disposed on the outer surface of the band 20 with the edges of the 
container being substantially parallel to the neighboring or corresponding 
edges of the band 20. As shown in detail in FIG. 3, the second container 
is defined by a first substantially rectangular sheet 34 of flexible 
material in contact with the outer surface of band 20 and a second sheet 
of flexible material 34 having substantially the same dimensions as sheet 
34. The two sheets 34,36 house the weight 30 and container 32 therebetween 
with the inner surfaces of the sheets 34,36 contacting opposite outer 
surfaces of the container 32. The sheets 34 and 36, which can be of the 
same material as band 20, are secured together around the periphery by 
stitching 38 or the equivalent. There is also provided means for securing 
the second container to band 20 along the two opposite edges of the second 
container which are disposed generally parallel to the side edges 22 and 
24 of the band 20. The securing means can be of any suitable form, and it 
is preferred that this be provided by stitching designated 40 in FIGS. 4 
and 5. 
The device 10 according to the present invention further comprises a pair 
of loop elements 44 and 46 fixed to band 20 in spaced-apart relation along 
one of the end edges of the band. In the device shown, the loops or rings 
44,46 are located along the edge 26 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The loops 
44,46 preferably are of metal having a generally rectangular perimeter, 
and they are located also adjacent corresponding ones of the side edges 
22,24 of band 20. In particular as shown in FIG. 4, loop 44 is located 
adjacent the corner defined by the side edge 22 and end edge 26 with one 
side or leg of the loop 44 being substantially coincident with the edge 
22. Similarly, loop 46 is located adjacent the corner defined by side edge 
24 and end edge 26 with one side or leg of the loop 46 being substantially 
coincident with the side edge 24. The loops 44,46 can be fixed to band 20 
by various suitable arrangements and in the device shown this is 
accomplished by the relatively narrow band-like elements 48,50 which are 
secured to band by stitching 52 and 54 respectively. In particular, each 
of the bands or strips 48 and 50, which can be of the same material as 
band 20, is secured to both the inner and outer surfaces of band 20 with 
one edge of the strip or band being substantially coincident with the 
corresponding side edge 22,24. Each of the strips or bands extends 
outwardly from the end edge 26 a short distance and then returns so as to 
provide a space to receive and hold a leg or section of the corresponding 
loop 44,46. 
The device 10 further comprises a pair of elongated straps 60,62 of 
flexible material each being fixed at one end thereof to the band 20 in 
spaced-apart relation along the other end edge 28. The straps 60,62 can be 
of the same material as band 20 and are secured such as by stitching 64,66 
to band 20 adjacent the edge 28. The straps 60,62 are located relative to 
edge 28 so as to be in general longitudinal alignment with the loops 44,46 
located along the opposite edge 26. The straps 60,62 extend outwardly from 
edge 28 in generally parallel relation to the side edges 22,24 and 
preferably the straps 60,62 are located adjacent corresponding ones of the 
side edges of the band. In particular, strap 60 is secured at one end to 
band 20 adjacent the corner defined by the junction of side edge 22 and 
end edge 28. Similarly, strap 62 is secured at one end to band 20 adjacent 
the corner defined by the junction between end edge 28 and the opposite 
side edge 24. Each of the straps 60,62 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is 
relatively small in width compared to the length thereof. In addition, the 
straps 60,62 are of unequal length, and in the device shown strap 60 is of 
greater length than strap 62. The strap 60 which is of greater length is 
the strap which is located farthest from the person's hand when the device 
is in a position of use. By way of example, in an illustrative device, 
strap 60 has a length of about 121/4 inches measured from edge 28 to the 
outer end of strap 60 and has a width of about five-eights inch. Strap 62 
has a length of about 71/2 inches measured from edge 28 to the outer end 
of strap 62 and has a width of about five-eighths inch. 
The device 10 according to the present invention further comprises 
fastening means on each of the straps 60 and 62, each of the fastening 
means being on the surface of the corresponding one of the straps which 
faces in the same direction as the outer surface of the band 20 when the 
band and the straps lie in substantially the same plane, for example as 
shown in FIG. 4. The device further comprises mating fastening means on 
the outer surface of the band 20 in general longitudinal alignment with 
the fastening means on the straps. In particular, band 60 is provided with 
fastening means in the form of a length or tape 70 of a Velcro type 
fastening element. In particular the preferred fastening means is the 
plastic hook and loop tape type fastener available under the registered 
trademark Velcro of American Velcro, Inc. Tape 70 is approximately the 
same width as that of strap 60 and extends from the outermost end of strap 
60 along a major portion of the length of strap 60, for example up to 
about two-thirds of the length of strap 60. Similarly, a Velcro type tape 
fastener 72 is provided on the surface of strap 62, extending from the 
outer end thereof along a major portion of the length thereof. The 
fasteners 70,72 are secured to the straps 60 and 62 respectively, by 
suitable means as stitching, adhesives or the like. The mating fastening 
elements on band 20 comprise tapes or strips 74,76 as shown in FIG. 4. 
Tape 74 is of Velcro material mating with respect to tape 70, and tape 74 
is secured to the outer surface of band 20 between the side edge 22 of 
band 200 and the outer edge of the weight 30 and holding means adjacent 
the stitching 40. Tape 74 extends along the length of band 20 for a 
distance about equal to the corresponding edge of the weight and holding 
means. Strip 74 is secured to band 20 by suitable means such as stitching 
or adhesives. Thus, the strip 74 is in longitudinal alignment with the 
strip 70 on strap 60. In a similar manner, a length or strip of Velcro 
material 76 is provided on the outer surface of band 20 between the 
opposite end of the holding means and weight structure and the side edge 
24 of band 20. The Velcro material of strip 76 is mating with respect to 
the material of strip 72. Strip 76 has a length approximately equal to the 
adjacent edge of the weight and holding means structure, is in 
longitudianl alignment with strip 72 on strap 62, and is secured to the 
surface of band 20 by adhesives, stitching or other suitable means. As 
shown in FIG. 4, the lengths of the fastening means 70 and 72 on the 
straps are greater than the length of the fastening means 74 and 76 on the 
band 20 to accommodate the different arm sizes of various persons in a 
manner which will be described. 
The device 10 of the present invention further comprises a pair of 
elongated stiffening elements being fixed to the band 20 adjacent to and 
generally parallel to a corresponding one of the end edges 26 and 28. Each 
of the stiffening elements is generally rectangular in shape, having a 
length substantially equal to the width of band 20 and having a width 
considerably smaller than the length thereof. The stiffening elements 
preferably are of cardboard material but others such as plastic or metal 
could be employed. The stiffening elements are inserted between the 
laminations 20a,20b of the band 20 and secured therein by stitching 
designated 84 in FIG. 3. The stiffening elements are relatively thin as 
shown in FIG. 3, each having a thickness slightly smaller than one of the 
laminations 20a,20b of the band 20. 
The device 10 of the present invention operates in the following manner. 
The device is worn on the arm of a person playing a game such as bowling 
where the arm action of the player is of primary importance. The device 10 
is located on the arm in the area or region of the wrist, and is located 
above the hand of the person as shown in FIG. 1. For example, in playing 
the game of bowling the person wears the device 10 on the arm which is 
used to carry and release the bowling ball. The device is installed on the 
arm in the following manner. The portion of the device including band 20 
and the weight 30 is placed on the outer surface of the person's arm above 
the hand with the weight 30 and holding means facing outwardly, i.e. the 
smooth inner surface of band 20 is in contact with the outer surface of 
the arm. The band 20 is orientated or disposed on the arm with the end 
edges 26,28 extending generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the 
arm. In other words, the side edges 22,24 of the band 20 will extend 
generally laterally around the person's arm. The device commonly is worn 
with the band 20 and weight 30 on the portion of the arm which faces 
outwardly or away from the person's body as shown in FIG. 1. Then the band 
is manipulated easily by the other hand of the person so as to be wrapped 
around the arm of the person. The straps 60 and 62 are extended around 
along the remaining surface of the arm whereupon each is inserted through 
a corresponding one of the loop elements 44,46 and then pulled backwardly, 
i.e. in a return direction along the arm and over the other portion of the 
strap as shown in FIG. 2. Then the fastening elements 70 and 72 on the 
straps 60 and 62 are moved into engagement with the mating fastening 
elements 74 and 76, respectively, on the outer surface of the band 20. 
During return of the straps back to the outer surface of the band 20 
containing the mating fastening elements, the straps are drawn or pulled 
so as to make the band and straps tight on the arm of the person. This is 
further illustrated in FIG. 2 wherein band 20 is wrapped tightly around 
the arm of the person, the drawing also showing the bones 13a,13b of the 
person's arm for further illustration. Strap 62 extends from the end edge 
of the band 20 along the remaining exposed surface of the person's arm 12 
whereupon it enters the loop or ring 46 and then is in effect bent back or 
returned upon itself and past the end edge 28 to the region of the 
corresponding one of the mating fastening elements 76 and is engaged 
therewith. In particular, the fastening tape 72 on strap 62 is in mating 
engagement with the strap 76 on the outer surface of band 20. The 
foregoing also is performed with strap 60 in a similar manner. The result 
is that each strap draws the band 20 tightly against the surface of the 
person's arm and is held firmly in place by engagement between the mating 
fastening element on the strap and band 20. 
The device 20 is oriented so that the longer strap 60 is facing the upper 
portion of the arm, i.e. the portion furthest from the hand, for greater 
comfort and effective holding of the device in view of the increasing 
diameter or size of the arm in a direction proceeding away from the hand. 
In addition, the fact that the fastening tapes 70 and 72 on straps 60 and 
62, respectively, are of greater length than the tape fastener portions on 
the band 20 allows for accommodation of different sized arms of various 
persons. 
In use, the device 10 is worn on the arm in the region of the wrist above 
the hand and typically on the outwardly facing surface of the arm as shown 
in FIG. 1. In bowling the device improves the motion of the arm on which 
it is worn and enhances the pendulum-like motion of the arm carrying the 
ball, both of which are desirable. The device with the weight 30 promotes 
and encourages a full extension of the arm carrying the ball. From the 
beginning through the middle portion of the person's arm swing wherein the 
ball is moved in a downward direction, the pellets comprising the weight 
30 compress or concentrate under the influence of gravity and centrifugal 
force during this downward portion of the swing. This has the effect of 
adding or enhancing to a stretching or pulling like feeling or effect on 
the person's arm during the swing. The weight 30 can be provided in 
various sizes, typically 8, 10 and 12 oz. weights or packages thereof. The 
particular magnitude of the weight 30 generally is a function of the size 
of the person, from the standpoint of comfort and balance, and also the 
weight of the bowling ball. 
Related to the foregoing is the fact that in improving the arm motion and 
enhancing the full extension of the arm this will promote easier release 
of the bowling ball from the hand at the appropriate point in the swing. 
Also, the weight serves to increase control of the arm swing and promotes 
the pendulum-like action of the arm and followthrough as described 
hereinabove. Typically, the device is worn on the outwardly facing surface 
of the arm as shown in FIG. 1 in which case this will have the effect of 
preventing any unwanted turning of the ball during the arm swing. If 
desired, however, the device 10 can be worn on the opposite surface of the 
arm, i.e. that portion facing inwardly toward the person's body, in which 
case this will enable the person to increase the turn of the ball during 
the stroke of the arm if this is desired. 
Another advantage of providing weight 30 in the form of the pellets is that 
it increases the comfort of the device on the person's arm. The weight in 
the form of the pellets is more easily conformable through the tightening 
of the band to the shape or contour of the outer surface of the person's 
arm. The stiffeners 80 and 82 serve to add rigidity to the end portion of 
the band 20 and serve as a firmer, providing more comfort and a certain 
amount of wrist support. All of the foregoing are provided in a device 
which is simple in construction and easy to manufacture. 
It is therefore apparent that the present invention accomplishes its 
intended objects. While a single embodiment of the invention has been 
described in detail, this is for the purpose of illustration and not 
limitation.