Abstract:
A bowler&#39;s dual position wrist and finger control device is disclosed. The device comprises a hand plate and a forearm plate pivotally linked by a double position hinge mechanism. The double position hinge mechanism angularly disposes the hand plate and forearm plate to each other and limits any backward angular movement beyond this limit, thereby restricting the backward movement of a bowler&#39;s hand during delivery of a bowling ball. The double position hinge mechanism allows the user to pre-select two such angles of disposition and limitation in the same plane, and to chose between them by positioning a release lever up or down. The invention further discloses the use of finger supports secured to the hand plate to provide additional support for the bowler. In the preferred embodiment the finger supports are laterally pivotable about the hand plate to enable the user to adjust the supports to a comfortable position.

Description:
This is a continuation-in-part application of application Ser. No. 08/901,009 filed on Jul. 28, 1997 now abandoned; itself a continuation-in-part application of application Ser. No. 08/782,961 filed on Jan. 13, 1997 now abandoned. Applicant hereby claims entitlement to the filing dates of the parent applications for all subject matter common to them. Applicant acknowledges his duty to bring to the attention of the Patent and Trademark Office any information he knows to be material to the patentabilty of the information added since the parent cases were filed. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION: 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a wrist and finger control device for bowling, specifically to a device which supports the wrist and fingers of a bowler to optimize their position during delivery of the bowling ball. This invention also relates to a wrist and finger control device which has a multi-stage function that allows the device to be quickly alternated between two selected angular positions. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     In the well-known game of bowling, the bowler&#39;s aim is to roll a ball down a lane in an effort to knock over a triangular array of ten pins. The game is divided into ten frames, in each of which (except the tenth, or last, frame which is a special case) the bowler has only two chances to knock down the entire array. The first shot in each frame, the “strike” shot, is always the same. The bowler is faced with a full ten-pin array, and the goal of the first shot in each frame is thus always the same, namely, to deliver the ball into the “pocket” of the pin array with good “action” in the hope that all the pins will fall. If the bowler is successful in causing all the pins to fall in the first shot, a strike is recorded. Since the first shot in each frame is always the same, the bowler strives for consistency. 
     If the bowler fails to knock down all ten pins in the strike shot, one more shot, the “spare” shot, is allowed to try to knock down any remaining pins. If the bowler is successful in doing so on this shot, a spare is recorded. Unlike the unchanging strike shot, spare shots in bowling vary widely, depending upon which pin or pins are left after the strike shot. Consequently, the bowler cannot simply plan on making the same, repeatable shot each time, but rather must have the ability to deliver the ball to different locations on the lane. Additionally, since spare shots typically only involve one pin, or a few pins, there is much less need to have mixing action on the ball to knock the pins over. 
     It can thus be seen that there is a fundamental distinction between the strike shot and the spare shot in bowling. It has long been understood by most good bowlers that the preferred way to execute the strike shot is by having the ball “hook” into the pocket. In other words, rather than simply throw the ball in a straight line from the point of release to the pocket, the bowler imparts rotary motion to the ball which causes the ball to follow a curved path from the point of release into the pocket. The preferred rotary motion is not easy to achieve and is imparted by the two middle fingers of the throwing hand after the thumb has been released from the bowling ball. Unlike a strike shot, however, in making a spare shot a bowler may well prefer to throw a straight ball, or one with very little hook. 
     Various devices have been proposed to assist the bowler in achieving the desired rotation on the ball to maximize the chance for strikes. Some of these are listed in Shaffer, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,371,163, a patent which also contains a good description of the general problem to which the present invention is addressed. The Shaffer patent notes that the ability of a bowler to impart the desired rotation to a ball to achieve hooking action is improved when the bowler&#39;s backward hand movement during delivery is restricted with respect to the axis of the bowler&#39;s forearm, and where the backward movement of the bowler&#39;s index finger is restricted with respect to the axis of the bowler&#39;s hand. This is called a “cupped” position of the hand. Given that bowling balls can weigh up to sixteen (16) pounds, it is easy to see that it may be difficult for a bowler to maintain the desired angular relationships of a cupped position in the absence of a means of support. 
     The Shaffer patent, while a significant advance over previous devices aimed at assisting bowlers, nevertheless falls short in several respects. First, the Shaffer patent, while recognizing the importance of maintaining a cupped hand and finger position in delivering the strike shot in a frame, fails to give due consideration to the fact that spare shots, being straighter shots, require a different wrist and finger position for optimal performance. Typically, the bowler will prefer a more “open” position for the hand and fingers on the spare shot, i.e., one in which there is a smaller angle, or no angle (neutral), between the hand and the longitudinal axis of the forearm, or even a “negative” angle in which the wrist extends backward beyond the forearm axis. If so, then a bowler will not want a device which restricts the backward movement of the hand to the same angle as is desirable on the strike shot, because such could interfere with the spare shot which the bowler is attempting to make. Although discussed primarily as a one-piece unit establishing a fixed angle between the forearm and hand, the description of the preferred embodiment in the Shaffer patent does describe the possibility of using an adjustable locking joint at the wrist which could theoretically be used to vary the hand and forefinger angles between shots. As a practical matter, doing so would be highly inconvenient and time-consuming, as well as introducing the possibility of error when such angular adjustments are being repeatedly made. Second, the Shaffer patent, while recognizing the importance of support for the index finger, fails to recognize the additional importance of providing support for the middle and ring fingers of the bowler&#39;s hand. 
     Another patent which shows a device for assisting bowlers is Castolo, U.S. Pat. No. 5,466,192. Castolo discloses a moveable bowling wrist device with four major parts, a hand portion, a forearm portion, a wing type structure to join them, and an adjustable stopping mechanism. The Castolo device allows the backward motion of the hand portion to be stopped at a certain position while the forward motion of the hand is unrestricted in the delivery. The stopping point is adjustable. The hand portion and forearm portion can also be positioned with respect to each other on a horizontal plane by a swiveling action, and then locked into place. 
     Although the Castolo patent recognizes the significant difference between cupped and uncupped hand positions for bowling, it does not recognize the corresponding importance of providing a device which can be conveniently moved between two positions for optimum performance on different types of shot. In particular, Castolo does not disclose a stopping mechanism capable of simultaneously incorporating two backward stopping points which can be selectively alternated by the bowler without the need to readjust or recalibrate. Castolo also fails to disclose a device which provides support to the three longest fingers of the bowler&#39;s hand. 
     It can thus be seen that there is a need for a device which will provide the optimal support and control for a bowler in both of the shot situations which will be encountered by the bowler, strike shots and spare shots, and which can easily and accurately be changed from one position to another depending upon the shot. There is additionally the need for a device which will provide support for the three fingers of the bowler which are used in the delivery of the ball. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, several objects and advantages of the present invention are: 
     a. To provide a wrist and finger support device which assists in maintaining the correct angular relationship between the bowler&#39;s forearm, hands and fingers, thereby enabling the bowler to impart desired motion while delivering a bowling ball; 
     b. To provide such a device which is adjustable over a range of angles and which can be used by different sized bowlers; 
     c. To provide such a device with a dual stage quick release automatic return hinge system or “smart hinge,” which can be quickly changed between two preselected angle settings by means of a release lever so that the bowler can quickly and accurately change settings from a strike (cupped) shot position to a spare (open) shot position; 
     d. To provide support for the index and middle two fingers of the bowler&#39;s delivery hand for additional control and to enhance the bowler&#39;s ability to impart the desired motion to the bowling ball; 
     e. To provide individual support for the middle two fingers and the index finger of the bowler&#39;s delivery hand which are independently, laterally adjustable over a range of angles such that the middle two fingers of the bowler will be supported at the precise lateral displacement preferred by the bowler, as will the index finger. 
     Other objects will be apparent from the reference to the ensuing description, and it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiments as shown in the accompanying drawings, and other constructions are possible within the scope and spirit of the appended claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention in a nearly assembled state which also shows an exploded view of some of the parts. 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the components of the dual stage quick release automatic return hinge, or smart hinge, mechanism. 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the release lever, the over-center arm, the adjustable fulcrum arm, and the primary adjustment screw. 
     FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the hand plate and two thumbscrews with two cursor washers. 
     FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the hinge arm, the secondary adjustment screw and the hinge arm locking screw. 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the hinge base anvil (FIG. 6 a ), and the bottom view of the hinge base anvil (FIG. 6 b ). 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the middle-ring finger support. 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the index finger support. 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the forearm plate. 
     FIGS. 10 ( 10   a ,  10   b ,  10   c ) is a simplified diagram showing the smart hinge and the ratio between a cupped position and an open position within a specified angular range, and also showing how the transformation between a cupped and an open position is achieved through the use of the release lever, using three different settings of the primary adjustment screw. 
     FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing some of the major parts of the invention. 
     FIG. 12 is an exploded view of the entire invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     An overall view of the invention is best viewed by beginning with FIG. 19 which shows an exploded view of the entire invention. The preferred embodiment is built around two platforms, hand plate  10  and forearm plate  11 . 
     Hand plate  10  is best shown in FIG.  4 . It is a flat plate made of a strong, rigid material, for example stainless steel or aluminum, with a ventral side lOm shaped in a generally cylindrical way so as to conform with the area at the back of the bowler&#39;s hand from approximately the wrist joint to the base of the fingers. Hand plate  10  includes tapped holes  10   a ,  10   c ,  10   e ,  10   g ,  10   h ,  10   i , and  10   j  and two slots, right arc-shaped slot  10   b  and left arc-shaped slot  10   d.  Scribed lines  10   l  about the arc-shaped slots  10   b ,  10   d  provide reference marks whose use will become clear later. The dorsal side  10   n  of hand plate  10  is shaped to include a pair of raised ribs  10   k , parallel to each other and thereby forming a pair of dove-tailed slots  10   f , and a sliding surface  10   s , as best seen in FIG.  4 . 
     A number of other component parts of the invention are attached to hand plate  10 . One of the attached component parts is middle-ring finger support  13 , as best seen in FIG.  7 . It is shaped to conform comfortably to the two fingers and back of the user&#39;s hand, and the ventral side 10 m  of hand plate  10 . In the preferred embodiment, middle-ring finger support  13  is made of a resilient and strong, but flexible material, such as nylon, to both provide positive support and a “springing” action to assist in delivery of the ball. Middle-ring finger support  13  includes middle finger extension  15  and ring finger extension  14  which extend beyond the edge of hand plate  10  and support the bowler&#39;s fingers. Tapped hole  13   b  is located near the center of middle-ring finger support  13 , and hole  13   a  is near the end opposite finger extensions  14  and  15 . 
     As best seen in FIG. 12, the middle-ring finger support  13  attaches to the ventral side  10   m  of hand plate  10  by means of pivot bolt  19  passing through hole  13   a  and into tapped hole  10   a.  From the dorsal side  10   n  of hand plate  10 , thumbscrew  18  passes through cursor washer  18   a , right arc-shaped slot  10   b  and into tapped hole  13   b.  The cursor washer  18   a  includes a scribed reference line  18   c  and a tab  18   b  which fits snugly within right arc-shaped slot  10   b.  It can thus be seen that when thumbscrew  18  is loosened, the middle-ring finger support  13  can be laterally pivoted about pivot bolt  19 , thereby varying the angle between the finger extensions  14 ,  15  and hand plate  10 . When the desired lateral angle of displacement is obtained, thumbscrew  18  can be tightened and middle-ring finger extension  13  will be locked firmly in place. Reference line  18   c  can be compared with scribed lines  10   l  on hand plate  10  to measure the angle of displacement. 
     Index finger support  12  seen in FIG. 8, is similarly attached to hand plate  10 . Index finger support  12  is made of the same type of material as middle-ring finger support  13 , and includes a single index finger extension  12   c , hole  12   a  and tapped hole  12   b.  As seen in FIG. 12, index finger support  12  is attached to the ventral side  10   m  of hand plate  10  in the same manner as middle-ring finger support  13 . Pivot bolt  19  passes through hole  12   a  and into tapped hole  10   c  of hand plate  10 . Thumbscrew  70  passes through cursor washer  70   a , left arc-shaped slot  10   d , and into tapped hole  12   b.  It can thus be seen that index finger support  12  can be angularly adjusted in the lateral plane in the same manner, but independent of, middle-ring finger support  13 . 
     Although the preferred embodiment of the invention thus includes two separate, laterally adjustable support members for the fingers, it should be apparent that other variations are also possible. For instance, support for the fingers could be provided by a single member, or by three separate members, and the lateral adjustment mechanism could be discarded in either single or multiple member embodiments. 
     Hand plate  10  is secured to the user&#39;s hand by conventional strap means. Palm strap anchors  75 ,  76  are secured to the hand plate  10  by screws  74 . See FIG.  1 . The palm strap anchors  75  and  76  are identical, although separate part numbers have been given for the sake of clarity. Referring to palm strap anchor  75  in FIG. 1, it can be seen that it has holes  75   a  and  75   b.  Curled end  75   d  secures a rectangular ring  75   c.  The palm anchor  75  is affixed to the hand plate  10  by means of screws  74  passing through holes  75   a ,  75   b  and into the tapped holes  10   i ,  10   j  of the hand plate  10 . A conventional strap (not shown) running between the two palm straps anchors  75 ,  76  secures this part of the device to the user&#39;s palm. 
     Reference is next made to FIG.  16  and the forearm plate  11 . It is a substantially flat plate made of a strong, rigid material, such as stainless steel or aluminum, and constructed so that its ventral side  11   g  curves in a generally cylindrical fashion around the user&#39;s forearm and wrist area. Forearm plate  11 , with a wrist end  11   f , includes slots  11   a ,  11   b  running parallel with its cylindrical axis. These slots  11   a ,  11   b  provide a point for the attachment of conventional strapping means (not shown) used to secure the forearm plate  11  to the user&#39;s forearm. Forearm plate  11  further includes three holes,  11   c ,  11   d ,  11   e  near the wrist end  11   f , and their use will be described later. 
     A dual stage quick release automatic return hinge, or smart hinge, mechanism, shown generally as  50  in FIG. 2, which is one of the key features of the invention, joins the hand plate  10  and forearm plate  11 , and further provides the mechanism for allowing the device to be quickly moved from a strike, or cupped, position to a spare, or open, position. The major components of the smart hinge mechanism are a hinge arm  52 , hinge base anvil  51 , and release lever assembly (see FIG.  10 ). 
     Referring first to FIG. 2, the hinge arm  52  can be seen. Hinge arm  52  includes a dove-tailed slide section  52   h  which is dimensioned and shaped to fit snugly into the dove-tailed slots  10   f  of the hand plate  10  so that it can be slidably disposed along sliding surface  10   s.  Adjustment slot  52   i  allows the hinge arm  52  to be moved in or out with respect to sliding surface  10   s , and then secured in the desired position by tightening lock bolt  53  which threads into tapped hole  10   e  of the hand plate  10 . Hinge arm  52  forks into two lugs,  52   l,    52   k.  Lug  52   l  includes through bores  52   a  and  52   b.  Lug  52   k  includes corresponding tapped holes  52   c  and  52   d  directly opposite through bores  52   a  and  52   b , as best seen in FIG.  5 . Retainer holes  52   g  in lug  52   k  and  52   m  in lug  52   l  are used to retain a spring, as will be described later. Adjustment bore  52   j  is a tapped hole extending through the hinge arm  52  adjacent to lug  52   k  and parallel thereto. A hollow  52   n  is cut into the hinge arm  52  to accommodate secondary adjustment screw  67  which can be threaded into adjustment bore  52   j.  Finally, tapped hole  52   f  and spring hollow  52   e  provide the means to secure return spring  71 , which is described further below. 
     The other base component of the smart hinge  50  is the hinge base anvil  51 , as best seen in FIGS. 3 and 6. Hinge base anvil  51  is secured to forearm plate  11  by three screws  74 . Tapped holes  51   d ,  51   g , and  51   h  in the bottom of hinge base anvil  51 , see FIG. 6 b , correspond with holes  11   c ,  11   d  and  11   e  on the forearm plate  11  for that purpose. The hinge base anvil  51  is generally fork shaped, with a tail section  51   i  and a forward section  51   k  forking into lugs  51   y  and  51   z.  Lugs  51   y  and  51   z  are dimensioned to be received between and within lugs 52 l  and  52   k  of the hinge arm  52 . The two lugs  51   y ,  51   z  define a slot  51   f.  Upper through bore  51   a  and lower through bore  51   b  pass through lugs  51   x  and  51   y.  The hinge base anvil  51  further includes a first bearing surface  51   j  and a second bearing surface  51   x.  Spring hollow  51   e  corresponds with spring hollow  52   e,  and tapped hole  51   l  with tapped hole  52   f.  When the hinge arm  52  and hinge base anvil  51  are mated, hinge base anvil  51  is pivotally linked to hinge arm  52  by means of pivot bolt  61  which passes through through bore  52   a  in lug  52   l  of the hinge arm  52 , through lower through bores  51   b  of the hinge base anvil  51 , and then threads into tapped hole  52   c  of lug  52   k.    
     The pivotability between hinge arm  52  and hinge base anvil  51  (and therefore between hand plate  10  and forearm plate  11 ), is controlled in a number of ways. Secondary adjustment screw  67  is threaded through tapped hole  52   j  and it strikes against bearing surface  51   x  on hinge base anvil  51 . This serves to put a limit on how far the smart hinge  50  can be opened. The further secondary adjustment screw  67  is threaded into tapped hole  52   j , the more of it protrudes and the more restricted is the limit on how far the smart hinge  50  can be opened. 
     The other way in which the smart hinge  50  is controlled is through its third major component, the release lever assembly, as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3. The release lever assembly consists of three major parts, a fulcrum arm  54 , a release lever  60 , and an over center arm  66 . 
     Fulcrum arm  54  is somewhat t-shaped. The vertical portion of the “t” is shown as tab  54   b  which includes through bore  54   d.  The horizontal portion of the “t” includes leverage tab  54   a,  with through bore  54   c,  which runs parallel to through bore  54   d.  Tabs  54   a  and  54   b  are co-planar and at right angles. The opposing end of the cross portion of the “t” has tapped hole  54   e.    
     Release lever  60  is a contoured,  1 -shaped lever which has a forked end  60   i  and a thumb handle end  60   h.  The forked end  60   i  includes opposing tangs  60   f  and  60   g,  best seen in FIG.  10 . Tang  60   f  has two through bores, bottom through bore  60   b  and top through bore  60   c,  and tang  63   g  has two corresponding tapped holes, bottom tapped hole  60   e  and top tapped hole  60   d.  The space between tangs  60   f  and  60   g  is a slot  60   a.    
     The over center arm  66  is a simple piece with two through bores  66   a  and  66   b.  It is of a thickness to allow it to fit snugly within slot  60   a  of release lever  60 . 
     Now that the major components of the release lever mechanism have been described, the means by which they are interconnected with each other, and incorporated into the smart hinge  50 , can be explained. Fulcrum arm tab  54   b  is placed into slot  51   f  of hinge base anvil  51 , thereby aligning through bore  54   d  of fulcrum arm  54  with upper through bore  51   a  of hinge base anvil  51 . Pivot pin  55  passes through these bores  51   a ,  54   d , thereby pivotally securing fulcrum arm  54  to hinge base anvil  51 . When thus in position, pivot pin  55  is restricted from lateral movement by the proximity of hinge arms lugs  52   k ,  52   l,  between which the hinge base anvil  51  has been placed. 
     Primary adjustment thumbscrew  56  threads into tapped hole  54   e  of fulcrum arm  54 . When turned clockwise primary adjustment thumbscrew  56  strikes against bearing surface  51   j  of the hinge base anvil  51 . The primary adjustment thumbscrew  56  provides the means for setting angular positions for the smart hinge  50 , as will be explained in more detail below. 
     Tab  54   a  of fulcrum arm  54  is inserted into slot  60   a  of release lever  60 , thereby aligning through bore  54   c  with through bore  60   c  and tapped hole  60   d.  Pivot bolt  59  then pivotally secures the fulcrum arm  54  to the release lever  60 . 
     The over center arm  66  is placed into slot  60   a  below fulcrum arm  54 , with through bore  66   a  aligned with through bore  60   b  and tapped hole  60   e  of the release lever  60 . Pivot bolt  58  pivotally secures this end of the over center arm  66  to the release lever  60 . 
     The other end of over center arm  66  is positioned so that through bore  66   b  comes into alignment with through bore  52   b  and tapped hole  52   d  of the hinge arm  52 . An offset retention spring  73 , with an offset surrounded by two coils  73   d ,  73   e  is placed around over center arm  66 , also in alignment with through bore  66   b.  Pivot bolt  62  can then pass into through bore  52   b , through coil  73   d , through through bore  66   b,  through coil  73   e,  and into tapped hole  52   d,  thereby providing a further point of pivotal attachment. Retaining tabs  73   a ,  73   b  on the ends of offset retention spring  73  are inserted into retainer holes  52   g  and  52   m  thereby securing the retention spring  73 . Return spring  71  fits within spring hollow  52   e  and  51   e,  and is secured in place by screws  72  through the end coils  71   a ,  71   b  of the return spring  71  and threaded into tapped holes  52   f  and  51   l.    
     Now that the construction of the smart hinge  50  has been described, its use can be better appreciated. There are three forms of adjustment allowed by the design. First, the primary adjustment screw  56  is used to set two distinct positions, one for a cupped position and one for an open position. 
     At this point, it will be useful to once again explain these terms. If a bowler&#39;s arm is held straight out, palm up, so that the arm and hand are in a straight line, that would represent a neutral position. As the hand is rotated at the wrist joint, above the straight line, there would be an increasingly positive angle; as the hand is rotated at the wrist joint below the straight line, there would be an increasingly negative angle. Cupped and open are relative terms, with the cupped position representing a more positive angle than the open position, although the actual value of the angles can vary. For instance, +35 °/0°, or 0°/−25° both represent cupped/open angle pairs, although 0° is the open position in the first instance and the cupped position in the second. 
     Returning to the preferred embodiment, the primary adjustment screw  56  is used only for changing the angles of the positions, and not for changing from one position to another. The ratio of the cupped position angle to the open position angle is a constant, so that, for example, moving the cupped position angle one way moves the open position angle the same direction. The ratio between the positions depends on the geometry of the smart hinge  50  and can be easily changed by varying the size of parts, particularly the length of the over center arm  66 . Applicant has determined that a ratio of 7°:5° works well, and the preferred embodiment employs that ratio. The following chart shows some examples of resulting positions: 
     
       
         
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Cupped 
                 Open 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 +35° 
                 0° 
               
               
                   
                 +20° 
                 −5° 
               
               
                   
                 +21° 
                 −10° 
               
               
                   
                 +14° 
                 −15° 
               
               
                   
                 +7° 
                 −20° 
               
               
                   
                 0° 
                 −25° 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     (Note that this chart assumes secondary adjustment screw  67  is not used to limit the open position). 
     Second, release lever  60  provides the means for switching from a cupped position into an open position, by either raising the release lever which changes the device from a cupped position to an open position, or by lowering the release lever, which changes an open position to a cupped position. 
     Third, the secondary adjustment screw  67  sets a limit on the amount of open position, thereby effectively allowing some variation in the otherwise fixed ratio between the cupped and open positions which would otherwise result. In other words, the secondary adjustment screw  67  is used to interrupt the fixed ratio by limiting the open position. As the secondary adjustment screw  67  is turned clockwise, it strikes against bearing surface  51   x  of hinge base anvil  51  and stops any further breaking backward motion of hinge arm  52 . Therefore, the secondary adjustment screw  67  can limit the amount of open position, but cannot increase the amount of open position provided by the primary adjustment screw  56 . 
     The operation of the smart hinge  50  can best be seen in FIG.  10 . This is a series of diagrams simplified to depict the smart hinge  50  and the ratio between a cupped position and an open position within a specified angular range. FIG. 10 also shows how the transformation between a cupped and an open position is achieved through the use of the release lever  60 . FIGS. 10 a ,  10   b  and  10   c  show how the angles can be changed by varying primary adjustment screw  56 . It must be kept in mind that FIGS. 10 a ,  10   b  and  10   c  represent simplified lever arrangements which attempt to show how the positional changes are accomplished through various articulations between the hinge members. The angular displacements shown are only for purposes of explaining the functions of the smart hinge  50 , and are not intended to limit the invention since it is apparent that various angles and ratios can be achieved within the scope and spirit of the invention by changing the size or position of the component parts. 
     The first thing to note about FIG. 10 is how it shows the five pivot points of the invention, as follows: 
     PP 1 —about pivot bolt  59   
     PP 2 —about pivot bolt  58   
     PP 3 —about pivot bolt  62   
     PP 4 —about pivot pin  55   
     PP 5 —about pivot bolt  61   
     FIG. 10 a  shows that a cupped angle of 35 degrees has been set, in this case representing a fully cupped position, as defined by the solid line form of the drawing. The corresponding divided line form represents the open position, shown to be at zero degrees or neutral, meaning that hinge arm  52  is in straight line with hinge base anvil  51 . Achieving an angle is accomplished by turning primary adjustment screw  56  clockwise, which contacts hinge base anvil  51  and forces fulcrum arm  54  to be angularly disposed to hinge base anvil  51  by raising one end of fulcrum arm  54  and lowering the other end due to the pivotal link, PP 4 , between the fulcrum arm  54  and hinge base anvil  51 . Release lever  60  is pivotally linked to the fulcrum arm  54  at PP 1 , and pivotally linked to the over center arm  66  at PP 2 . The other end of the over center arm  66  is pivotally linked to hinge arm  52  at PP 3 . Finally, hinge arm  52  is pivotally linked to hinge base anvil  51  at PP 5 . 
     The articulation between the fulcrum arm  54 , over center arm  66 , and hinge arm  52  produces a knee-type hinge, with the knee being at PP 2 . When the release lever  60  is in a lowered position, the knee at PP 2  is locked, or breaking past its in-line position of PP 1 , PP 2  and PP 3 , as shown by line ILP on the drawing, but limited in over centering due to its construction which prevents the knee at PP 2  from overextending, with retention spring  73  helping to keep the knee joint in position. As a result, a cupped position of 35° is produced. When release lever  60  is raised, the knee at PP 2  bends, or is disengaged, which allows hinge arm  52  to collapse, reducing the angle from 35° to 0°, or neutral. 
     In FIG. 10 b,  the primary adjustment screw  56  has been turned counterclockwise, which reduces the angle between the fulcrum arm  54  and the hinge base anvil  51 . As a result, the hinge arm  52  angle is reduced to 15°, with the angle of the fulcrum arm  54  and the angle of the hinge arm  52  staying proportionate as the angle is reduced. When release lever  60  is raised, the knee at PP 2  is disengaged and the angle between the fulcrum arm  54  and the hinge arm  52  changes. As shown in FIG. 17 b,  the movement of adjustment screw  56  has thus changed the cupped angle to a positive 15° and the open position to a negative 10°. 
     In FIG. 10 c,  the primary adjustment screw  56  has been turned fully counterclockwise and the cupped angle of the fulcrum arm  54  and the hinge arm  52  is further reduced to a neutral position. When the release lever  60  is disengaged, the hinge arm  52  is then positioned at an open position of negative 25 degrees, with a cupped position at zero degrees, or a neutral position. Therefore a maximum cupped position at 35° will produce an open position at a neutral position, 0°, when the release lever  60  is disengaged (FIG. 10 a ), and a minimum cupped position at 0° will produce an open position of −25° when the release lever  60  is disengaged (FIG. 10 c ). Thus, the ratio between a cupped position and an open position remains constant throughout the full angular range of motion of the smart hinge  50 . The secondary adjustment screw  67 , not shown in FIG. 10, allows this otherwise constant ratio to be interrupted on the open position by limiting the open position angle (i.e., by narrowing the angular range between cupped and open positions that would otherwise result in the absence of this secondary adjustment). Thus, for example, the secondary adjustment screw  67  might be used to limit the open position to 10° with a 35° fully-cupped position. This feature greatly increases the user&#39;s ability to customize the two angle positions “programmed” into the smart hinge  50 . 
     While the smart hinge  50  is a complex arrangement of levers and pivotal links, it simplifies the process of changing positions by making the transformation easy, accurate and reliable and eliminating the guesswork element associated with other hinge systems. 
     It will be apparent from the foregoing description that many modifications or variations of the invention can be made without 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 PARTS LIST 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 DESCRIPTION 
                 PART NO. 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Hand Plate 
                 10 
               
               
                   
                 Tapped Hole 
                 10a, 10c, 10e, 10g, 
               
               
                   
                   
                 10h, 10i, 10j 
               
               
                   
                 Right Arc-Shaped Slot 
                 10b 
               
               
                   
                 Left Arc-Shaped Slot 
                 10d 
               
               
                   
                 Dove-Tailed Slots 
                 10f 
               
               
                   
                 Raised Ribs 
                 10k 
               
               
                   
                 Scribed Lines 
                 10l 
               
               
                   
                 Ventral Side 
                 10m 
               
               
                   
                 Dorsal Side 
                 10n 
               
               
                   
                 Sliding Surface 
                 10s 
               
               
                   
                 Forearm Plate 
                 11 
               
               
                   
                 Wrist Strap Anchor Slots 
                 11a, 11b 
               
               
                   
                 Holes 
                 11c, 11d &amp; 11e 
               
               
                   
                 Wrist End 
                 11f 
               
               
                   
                 Ventral Side 
                 11g 
               
               
                   
                 Index Finger Support 
                 12 
               
               
                   
                 Bore 
                 12a 
               
               
                   
                 Hole 
                 12a 
               
               
                   
                 Tapped Hole 
                 12b 
               
               
                   
                 Index Finger Extension 
                 12c 
               
               
                   
                 Middle-Ring Finger Support 
                 13 
               
               
                   
                 Bore 
                 13a 
               
               
                   
                 Tapped Hole 
                 13b 
               
               
                   
                 Ring Finger Extension 
                 14 
               
               
                   
                 Middle Finger Extension 
                 15 
               
               
                   
                 Thumb Screw 
                 18 
               
               
                   
                 Cursor Washer 
                 18a 
               
               
                   
                 Tab 
                 18b 
               
               
                   
                 Reference Line 
                 18c 
               
               
                   
                 Pivot Bolt 
                 19 
               
               
                   
                 Double-Position Hinge Mechanism 
                 50 
               
               
                   
                 Hinged Base Anvil 
                 51 
               
               
                   
                 Upper Through Bore 
                 51a 
               
               
                   
                 Lower Through Bore 
                 51b 
               
               
                   
                 Through Bore 
                 51b 
               
               
                   
                 Tapped Holes 
                 51d, 51g &amp; 51h 
               
               
                   
                 Lug 
                 51e 
               
               
                   
                 Slot 
                 51f 
               
               
                   
                 Tail Section 
                 51i 
               
               
                   
                 First Bearing Surface 
                 51j 
               
               
                   
                 Forward Section 
                 51k 
               
               
                   
                 Tapped Hole 
                 51l 
               
               
                   
                 Second Bearing Surface 
                 51x 
               
               
                   
                 Lug 
                 51y, 51z 
               
               
                   
                 Hinge Arm 
                 52 
               
               
                   
                 Through Bores 
                 52a, 52b 
               
               
                   
                 Tapped Holes 
                 52c, 52d 
               
               
                   
                 Spring Hollow 
                 52e 
               
               
                   
                 Tapped Hole 
                 52f 
               
               
                   
                 Retainer Hole 
                 52g, 52m 
               
               
                   
                 Dove-tailed Slide Section 
                 52h 
               
               
                   
                 Adjustment Slot 
                 52i 
               
               
                   
                 Tapped Hole 
                 52j 
               
               
                   
                 Lugs 
                 52l, 52k 
               
               
                   
                 Hollow 
                 52n 
               
               
                   
                 Lock Bolt 
                 53 
               
               
                   
                 Fulcrum Arm 
                 54 
               
               
                   
                 Leverage Tab 
                 54a 
               
               
                   
                 Fulcrum Arm Tap 
                 54b 
               
               
                   
                 Through Bore 
                 54d 
               
               
                   
                 Through Bore 
                 54e 
               
               
                   
                 Tapped Hole 
                 54e 
               
               
                   
                 Pivot Pin 
                 55 
               
               
                   
                 Primary Adjustment Screw 
                 56 
               
               
                   
                 Pivot Bolt 
                 58 
               
               
                   
                 Release Lever 
                 60 
               
               
                   
                 Slot 
                 60a 
               
               
                   
                 Bottom Through Bore 
                 60b 
               
               
                   
                 Top Through Bore 
                 60c 
               
               
                   
                 Top Tapped Hole 
                 60d 
               
               
                   
                 Bottom Tapped Hole 
                 60e 
               
               
                   
                 Tangs 
                 60f, 60g 
               
               
                   
                 Thumb Handle End 
                 60h 
               
               
                   
                 Forked End 
                 60i 
               
               
                   
                 Pivot Bolt 
                 61 
               
               
                   
                 Pivot Bolt 
                 62 
               
               
                   
                 Over Center Arm 
                 66 
               
               
                   
                 Bore 
                 66a 
               
               
                   
                 Through Bore 
                 66b 
               
               
                   
                 Secondary Adjustment Screw 
                 67 
               
               
                   
                 Thumb Screw 
                 70 
               
               
                   
                 Cursor Washer 
                 70a 
               
               
                   
                 Return Spring 
                 71 
               
               
                   
                 End Coils 
                 71a, 71b 
               
               
                   
                 Screws 
                 72 
               
               
                   
                 Retention Spring 
                 73 
               
               
                   
                 Retaining Tabs 
                 73a, 73b 
               
               
                   
                 Wire Tab 
                 73c 
               
               
                   
                 Coil 
                 73d, 73e 
               
               
                   
                 Screws 
                 74 
               
               
                   
                 Palms Strap Anchors 
                 75, 76 
               
               
                   
                 Holes 
                 75a, 75b 
               
               
                   
                 Rectangular Ring 
                 75c 
               
               
                   
                 Curled End 
                 75d 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     substantially departing from the essential concept as set forth herein. Since many changes can be made in the above description, and many apparently widely varying embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the drawing and specifications shall be construed as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.