Abstract:
A bowling ball maintenance device performs a de-oiling process on bowling balls having porous surfaces. The maintenance device may comprise a container sized to store at least one bowling ball within the container and structured to receive the bowling ball. A heating element is structured to warm an internal environment of the container at least to a level at which oil that may have accumulated in the pores of the ball begins to flow out of the pores. Embodiments also include a ball support cup within the container that is structured to contain the oil that has flowed out of the pores of the ball. Depending on the embodiment, the ball support cup may include three or more ball support extensions structured to support the ball in a stationary position over a height of the walls or edges of the ball support cup during operation of the maintenance device.

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
     This application claims benefit of and is a non-provisional application of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/533,081, filed Sep. 9, 2011, the contents of which are incorporated herein. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This disclosure relates generally to device for use with bowling balls, and more particularly to a device that is structured to clean and maintain bowling balls. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Modern bowling balls are typically made of a urethane shell with a resin coating. Although the shell normally appears solid at a distance, its surface is usually porous when viewed close-up or microscopically. This shell surface porosity gives the ball a higher coefficient of friction than would be expected of an object that generally feels and appears to be smooth. This friction allows the ball to “grip” the lane, causing the ball to “hook”—that is, change direction due to spin imparted to the ball by a bowler&#39;s delivery, imbalance in the core of the ball, or both. 
     Since early in the twentieth century, the practice of oiling bowling lanes has been universal. Originally intended to reduce the wear and tear on the wooden lanes that occurred from repeated play, now the application of oil in patterns is often used to make it easier (or more difficult) to achieve high scores. Most bowling establishments strip old oil off the lanes and re-oil at least once a day, or occasionally more often. 
     Dust, dirt, and other foreign debris inevitably settle out of the air onto the oil on the lane, and, as balls roll or slide through the oil, the pores on the surface of the balls become clogged or filled with an oil-and-dirt mixture. After a ball has been used for some time, ball performance will change, usually considered a negative change, due to the friction coefficient of the ball surface changing as the pores of the shell surface become clogged with dirt and oil. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,811,763 entitled BOWLING BALL REJUVENATOR (hereinafter “the &#39;763 patent”) describes a device commonly known as or related to a “Rejuvenator” device that is used in some bowling establishments. As set out in the &#39;763 patent, the Rejuvenator works by heating a rotating bowling ball from one side to remove the oil-dirt mixture. In some models a ball wiper or oil vacuum is used to remove the oil from the ball once the oil-dirt mixture has beaded to the ball surface of the heating ball. While the Rejuvenator is effective at cleaning bowling balls, it is exceedingly expensive due to the complicated set up of the rotating motor and heating element requirements. Further, the Rejuvenator is most effective at cleaning the areas of the bowling ball that come in close proximity to the heating element. Because the heating element is located to the side of the ball, the sides of the ball are subject to a more aggressive heat treatment than the top and bottom of the ball. Thus, the ball must be run through the Rejuvenator in multiple orientations or for a relatively long time for it to effectively clean the entire bowling ball, otherwise it has areas with varying amounts of oil and dirt on its shell surface after treatment. 
     Embodiments of the invention address these and other limitations of the prior art. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present description gives instances of bowling ball maintenance devices, and methods, the use of which may help overcome problems and limitations of the prior art. 
     In particular, embodiments of the present concept are directed to bowling ball maintenance devices that controllably heat air surrounding an enclosed bowling ball to extract oil and other contaminants lodged in pores in the surface of the ball. 
     In some embodiments, a bowling ball maintenance device includes a housing having a ball chamber configured to enclose a bowling ball while the ball rests on a ball support. A processor controls a heating element to heat air within the maintenance device, and controls a circulation device to circulate the air around the enclosed ball. User controls on the housing allow a user to operate the maintenance device in a desired manner. 
     An advantage over the prior art is that the bowling ball can be cleaned of oil and contaminants in a consistent and efficient manner without risk of damage to the ball or the need to manipulate the ball during cleaning. Additionally, some embodiments of this concept can be manufactured and sold for prices that are affordable for home use for most bowlers. 
     These and other features and advantages of this description will become more readily apparent from the following Detailed Description, which proceeds with reference to the drawings, in which: 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a functional block diagram of a bowling ball maintenance device according to embodiments of the invention. 
         FIGS. 2A ,  2 B, and  2 C are diagrams of an example bowling ball maintenance device showing exterior views of the device according to embodiments of the invention. 
         FIGS. 3A ,  3 B, and  3 C are diagrams of an example bowling ball maintenance device showing exterior views of the device according to other embodiments of the invention. 
         FIGS. 4A and 4B  are diagrams of an example bowling ball maintenance device showing interior views of the device according to embodiments of the invention. 
         FIGS. 5A ,  5 B, and  5 C are diagrams of an example ball holder for a bowling ball maintenance device according to embodiments of the invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a flow diagram of a method of operating a bowling ball maintenance device according to embodiments of the invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a flow diagram of another method of operating a bowling ball maintenance device according to embodiments of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As described herein, embodiments of this concept are directed to a bowling ball maintenance device that removes oil and other particulates that accumulate in the porous surface of better bowling balls. The device includes a heating element, a fan, and a ball holding device inside a housing that includes user inputs, such as a timer, setting input, and/or power switch. The device may operate at temperatures of between about 100° F. to 160° F., and preferably between approximately 120° F. to 140° F. for constant temperature operations, described in more detail below. In general, the device operates by heating and circulating air around a bowling ball placed in the housing. The heat causes the accumulated oil to liquefy and flow out of the pores of the surface of the ball. A basin or cup at the bottom of the housing is structured to support the ball and may capture excess oil and debris as they are removed from the ball. 
     Embodiments are now described in more detail. 
       FIG. 1  is a functional block diagram of a bowling ball maintenance device  100  according to embodiments of the invention. Referring to  FIG. 1 , the maintenance device  100  includes a housing  105  having a ball chamber  120  that is structured to enclose a bowling ball  190 . A bowling ball  190  placed in the ball chamber  120  is held in place by a ball support  125 . User controls  110  are included on the exterior of the housing  105  to allow a user to operate various functions of the maintenance device  100 . In some embodiments these user controls communicate with a processor  150  that controls the operation of the maintenance device  100 . In other embodiments the controls may work without requiring use of a processor. The maintenance device  100  also includes a heating element  130  and a circulation device  140 , both of which are connected to, and controlled by, the processor  150 . 
     In operation, the heating element  130  is controlled to heat air in the device to a desired temperature and the circulation device  140  causes the heated air to be circulated around a ball  190  that is placed in the ball chamber  120  of the device  100 . The circulation of air is preferably a forced convection that maintains the air in the ball chamber at a consistent desired temperature without directly exposing a portion of the ball  190  to heat source. That is, with the device described above with reference to the &#39;763 patent, portions of a bowling ball are directly adjacent to a heat source, which can overheat and potentially damage the surface of the bowling ball. Embodiments of this concept, on the other hand, heat air within the maintenance device  100 , and circulate the heated air around the bowling ball to provide a gentle and consistent supply of heat. The heated air is by nature also low in humidity. The heated air liquefies the hardened oil in the surface pores of the bowling ball  190  and increases its ability to flow, which causes the liquefied oil to flow out of the pores along with the dirt and other contaminants that may also be stuck in the pores with the oil. 
     The ball support  125  may be structured, as described in more detail below, to allow the heated air to circulate under the bowling ball  190  and also to collect the oil and dirt that flow off of the ball during the maintenance process. The ball support  125  is also removable so that the excess oil and dirt can be easily disposed of, and the ball support can be cleaned. 
     The heating element  130  may include a resistance style heating element, an infrared heating element, or any other type of heating element that can controllably heat air to a desired temperature. In some embodiments, the heating element may be generally circular and have a diameter greater than the diameter of a bowling ball. In other embodiments, there may be two heating elements—one positioned below the ball in the housing and one positioned above the ball in the housing to consistently heat the air. The circulation device  140  may include a fan, an ionic potential plate system, or any other suitable system that forces air to flow at a desired rate. In some embodiments the heated air may flow adequately by convection. In those environments no circulation device  140  is necessary to be included. 
     The maintenance device  100  may optionally include a power source  160 , a memory  165 , a timer  170 , a temperature sensor  175 , and/or other components  180 . The power source  160  may be a converter that transforms AC power from a household plug into DC power needed by the processor  150 . Alternatively, the power source  160  may include a rechargeable battery or a battery compartment for one-time-use batteries in order to make the maintenance device  100  portable. The memory  165  may be connected to the processor  150  and store firm ware, software, or other operating instructions needed to operate the device. In addition, the memory  165  may record temperature profiles for operating intervals for calibration purposes, test purposes, or optimal operation setting determinations. For example various profiles may be simultaneously stored in the memory  165  that are selected depending on how dirty the bowling ball  190  is. For instance, the operation may choose to provide a heavily soiled bowling ball  190  with a particular profile that runs longer or hotter than one for a lightly soiled ball. Various profiles may also be stored depending on the particular type of lane oil used. 
     The timer  170  may be used to track time intervals for operation of the device  100 . For example, if the user controls  110  include a timer dial, or other timer setting, the timer  170  may track elapsed time and notify the processor when a requested amount of time has passed. Temperature sensor  175  may include a thermocouple or thermometer that measures the air temperature in one or more areas of the ball chamber  120 , or other portion of the device  100 , so that the temperature of the air circulating around the ball can be maintained within a desired range. The processor  150  may use temperature measurements supplied by the temperature sensor  175  to control operations of the heating element  130  and the circulation device  140 . Optional component  180  may include other components of the device such as a humidity regulator to reduce the humidity of the air in the device. 
     Although only a single bowling ball  190  is shown in the ball chamber  120  of  FIG. 1 , various other embodiments may be able to enclose and clean multiple bowling balls simultaneously. In these multi-ball embodiments, multiple balls  190  may be enclosed in a single common ball chamber  190  or in separate ball chambers. When the balls  190  are enclosed in a single common chamber, multiple ball supports  125  may be used to support the balls or a single ball support that is structured to hold multiple balls may be used. 
       FIGS. 2A ,  2 B, and  2 C are diagrams of an example bowling ball maintenance device  200  showing exterior views of the device according to embodiments of the invention. Referring to  FIGS. 2A-2C , the device  200  may be substantially cylindrical, and include a lid  207  that covers the ball chamber  120  ( FIG. 1 ). User controls  210  on the device may include a timer knob that can be twisted to a desired set time by the user. Labels around the timer knob may indicate approximate time intervals that the timer may be set to. For example, the labels for these time intervals may include 30 minutes, 60 minutes, 90 minutes, and 120 minutes. The timer knob  210  can be dialed to a desired time interval, e.g., 60 minutes, and the device  200  will run for that amount of time, e.g., one hour, before shutting itself off. As described above, this auto-shut off feature may prevent the ball from being damaged or the device from being run longer than is necessary. Some simple embodiments may have the user controls  210  coupled directly to the heating element  130 , without requiring use of a processor  150 . 
       FIGS. 3A ,  3 B, and  3 C are similar to the  2 A,  2 B, and  2 C counterparts, except there are separate user controls  310 ,  312 , to respectively control an operation time and an operation temperature. As above, the controls  310 ,  312  may be coupled to the processor  150 , or may be directly coupled to a dedicated timer and dedicated temperature control, for example. Additional user controls are possible, of course, such as a fan speed control (not illustrated). 
       FIGS. 4A and 4B  are diagrams of an example bowling ball maintenance device  300  showing interior views of the device according to embodiments of the invention. Referring to  FIGS. 4A and 4B , the device includes a ball chamber  420  and ball support  425 . The ball chamber  420  may also be substantially cylindrical. It may include a domed lid structure, such as illustrated at  440 . Multiple air holes  422  may be formed in the walls of the ball chamber  420  to allow the heated air to be circulated around a ball placed in the chamber. For example, the circulation device  140  ( FIG. 1 ) may force heated air in the top of the chamber  420  over the ball and the air may escape through the multiple air holes  422  formed in the wall of the chamber to be reheated by the heating element  130  ( FIG. 1 ) and circulated back over the top of the ball. In other embodiments, the multiple air holes  422  may be used to force heated air into the chamber  420  and an exhaust port at the top and/or bottom of the chamber may be used recapture the air for recirculation. While recirculating the majority of the heated air improves efficiency, in some embodiments, fresh air from outside the device may be taken in and heated during operation of the device, so that evaporated water vapor or oil in the recirculated air does not interfere with operation of the device  400 . 
       FIGS. 5A ,  5 B, and  5 C are diagrams of an example ball holder for a bowling ball maintenance device according to embodiments of the invention. Referring to  FIGS. 5A-5C , the bowling ball support device  525  may be a hard rubber or plastic cup with multiple ball posts  527  to hold the ball  590  above the bottom of the cup. Four posts  527  are illustrated in  FIGS. 5A and 5B , although any number of posts operative to support a ball may be used. The posts  527  of  FIG. 5A  are shown as having a rounded, generally conical shape, but may include other shapes to support the ball as well. The posts  527  allow heated air to circulate under the ball  590  and also keep the ball above excess oil and dirt that may collect in the ball support cup  525  during a maintenance operation. The contact area where the posts  527  interface with the surface of the ball is very small, which enhances cleaning of the ball. The rubber or plastic material of the cup may be easy to clean while not damaging the ball surface, although any type of suitable material may be used in the construction of the ball support device  525 . The ball support  525  is also removable from the device so that the excess oil and dirt that accumulate in the cup portion can be easily disposed of, and the support device can be cleaned. Similarly, the posts  527  may also be removable from the ball support  525 , for example to replace them due to wear. In some embodiments, the posts  527  may be made of a different material than the ball support  525 . 
     In an exemplary embodiment the ball support device  525  may be about five to six inches in diameter with substantially vertical sidewalls of about an inch tall. Four posts  527 , for example made from rubber, are included to support a ball  590 , where the posts are about ¾ of an inch tall and spaced approximately two inches apart. The posts  527  may have rounded tops and are sturdy enough to support a 16 pound bowling ball  590  without any deformation. 
       FIG. 6  is a flow diagram of a method of operating a bowling ball maintenance device according to embodiments of the invention. Although steps and processes are shown in a particular order in  FIG. 6 , these steps may be performed in an alternate order. Further, additional processes may be carried out that are not shown in this figure. Referring to  FIG. 6 , the method begins with process  610  where it is determined if the device is ready for operation. The device may be ready for operation when a bowling ball has been placed in the ball chamber of the device, the lid has been closed and secured, and the user controls have been set to a desired operation setting. Once it is determined that the device is ready for operation, the method proceeds to process  620  where the air in the device is circulated. This process may include initiating operation of the circulation device. The air is also heated in process  630 , where the heating element in the device may be initiated. 
     The method then proceeds to process  640  where it is determined if the air temperature is in a desired range. If the air has not reached a desired temperature the method may return to process  630  where the air is continually heated. Here, the heating element may be initially turned on to a “high” setting to quickly heat the air to a desired temperature, e.g., 130 degrees Fahrenheit. Once it is determined that the air is at a desired temperature, the heating element may be switched off, or switched to a “low” setting to maintain the desired temperature of the air. If it is determined in process  640  that the temperature has fallen below a predefined threshold level, the heating element may again be switched to the “high” setting to reheat the air back to a desired temperature. In some embodiments, the range for acceptable air temperatures is 128 degrees F. to 132 degrees F. Thus, when the temperature falls below 128 degrees F., the heating element heats the air for a set amount of time, or until the air reaches 132 degrees F. 
     In process  650  it is determined if a set timer has expired. Here, it is determined whether a set desired time has elapsed for operation of the device. If, for example, a user had set a timer dial to “60 minutes,” it is determined in process  650  if an hour has elapsed. When the time has elapsed, the method proceeds to process  670  where operation of the device is ended. Here, the circulation device and heating element may be turned off. Additionally, an indication light may be displayed on the user interface or a sound may be emitted signaling that the ball has been cleaned. Alternatively, the device may cease operation if the user shuts off the device or power is loss. 
       FIG. 7  is a flow diagram of another method of operating a bowling ball maintenance device according to embodiments of the invention. Referring to  FIG. 7 , the method begins with process  710  where it is determined if the device is ready for operation. This process may include similar steps to process  710  described above. In process  720 , the air in the device is circulated, and in process  735 , the air is heated to a first temperature. Here, the heating element may be operated to heat the air to a first desired temperature. In process  745 , it is determined if a first time interval has elapsed. That is, the air in the device is heated to a first desired temperature for a first time interval in processes  735  and  745 . Although not shown, this method may also include a process similar to process  640 , where it is determined whether the first temperature is being maintained in a desired range. 
     After the first time interval has elapsed, the air in the device is heated to a second desired temperature in process  755 . Here, the second desired temperature may be higher or lower than the first desired temperature. If the second temperature is higher than the first temperature, the heating element may be turned to a “high” setting to increase the temperature of the air. If the second temperature is lower than the first temperature, the heating element may be turned off and/or outside air may be taken on to lower the temperature of the air to the second desired temperature. In process  765 , it is determined if a second time interval has elapsed, where the air is at the second desired temperature. After the second time interval has elapsed, the operation of the device is ended in process  770 . Although only two temperature levels are shown in  FIG. 7 , additional temperature levels and intervals may be present in other methods. 
     In one embodiment, the device is operable to heat the air, and by association the surface of the ball and the oil in the pores of the ball surface to multiple levels as follows. The air is initially heated to 140° F. for 5 minutes, followed by a reduction in temperature to 130° F. for 5 minutes, followed by alternating periods of 120° F. and 135° F. increments for a total of 50 minutes. This hour long cleaning process may hasten oil removal without damaging the surface of the bowling ball. That is, the initial high temperatures cause the oil to quickly boil without harming the material in the ball surface, while the alternating temperature periods allow the oil to flow easily without raising the temperature of the ball surface or core to levels that would harm the materials. This alternating heat process is more efficient at removing oil and dirt than constant temperature applications and hence can reduce the operation time needed for cleaning a bowling ball. Embodiments of the device may have user controls that allow a user to select a constant temp cleaning process or a “quick-clean” process that uses multiple temperature levels. Hence, a bowler may run a longer cleaning process overnight or when they are not planning on playing in the near future, but have the option to run a quick 20 or 30 minute “quick-clean” process right before heading out to play. 
     Some embodiments of the invention have been described above, and in addition, some specific details are shown for purposes of illustrating the inventive principles. However, numerous other arrangements may be devised in accordance with the inventive principles of this patent disclosure. Further, well known processes have not been described in detail in order not to obscure the invention. Thus, while the invention is described in conjunction with the specific embodiments illustrated in the drawings, it is not limited to these embodiments or drawings. Rather, the invention is intended to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents that come within the scope and spirit of the inventive principles set out herein.