Abstract:
A bowling practice device for regularizing and perfecting bowling technique. An aerodynamically designed hollow body includes an outer wall and a cylindrical inner wall. The opposed ends of the outer wall taper to meet the cylindrical inner wall. The outer wall preferably comprises a plurality of foam panels, one of which includes at least two finger holes suitable for personalization to the hand of the bowler.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to the sport of bowling. More particularly, this invention pertains to a practice assistance device for enabling a bowler to regularize, and thereby enhance the consistency of his arm swing. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   The sport of bowling basically requires a single piece of player equipment, namely a spherical ball that is conventionally of rigid material such as polyurethane, hard rubber, even wood. It includes finger holes, preferably suited to the size and style of the bowler, by which the ball is grasped prior to release at the end of a stroke or swing of the bowler&#39;s arm. 
   While neither the bowler&#39;s basic equipment nor the object of the sport is, at first glance, particularly complicated, many factors enter into a bowler&#39;s awareness as he seeks to “perfect” his game. The skilled bowler will take into account, for example, his location and launch point in relation to the degree of oiling of the lane. Various adjustments reflect many factors, including, for example, the positioning of the pins that remain standing, the thickness and contour of the oil that protects the wooden lane, etc. 
   Adjustments (w.r.t. launch point, stance, etc.) made for varying lane conditions and the like are most effective when the bowler is able to make such adjustments based upon a predictable stroke of the bowler&#39;s arm. Otherwise, adjustments to stance, position and the like are made “in the dark”, reflect guesswork and have no particular reliability. 
   The bowler&#39;s stroke represents a composite motion that includes addressing the ball, and striding coordinated with backstroke and follow-through arm swings. The reduction of this relatively-complex sequence into a reliable predictable sequence of motions relies upon repetition. By coupling such repetition with analysis, one can multiply the benefits of repetitive practice of the bowler&#39;s stroke. 
   A number of factors complicate the ability of a bowler to engage in the type of repetition that would result in the grooving of his stroke. The most obvious type of practice requires the bowler to spend many hours by himself at the bowling alley, observing the action of his ball as he plays many practice rounds. In addition to the impracticality of such extensive practice, requiring absence from the home, for the average non-professional bowler, the feedback that he or she receives from such practice is complicated by factors, such as oiling of the boards of the alley, that prevent isolation of the action of the ball to the bowler&#39;s stroke. Furthermore, excessive practice with a bowling ball may result in arm strain. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention addresses the foregoing and other shortcomings of the prior art by providing a bowling practice device for regularizing the stroke a bowler. Such device includes a generally-cylindrical, hollow body comprising an outer wall and a cylindrical inner wall. First and second finger holes are provided in the outer wall of the body for receiving a first and a second finger insert. The opposed ends of the outer wall taper inwardly to meet the cylindrical inner wall. 
   The preceding and other features of this invention will become further apparent from the detailed description that follows. Such description is accompanied by a set of drawing figures. Numerals of the drawing figures, corresponding to those of the written description, point to the features of the invention with like numerals referring to like features throughout both the written description and the drawing figures. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
       FIGS. 1A and 1B  are completed and partially-exploded perspective views respectively of the bowling practice device of the invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a view of the device of the invention as gripped for use; 
       FIGS. 3A and 3B  illustrate the invention in use for emulating the address and a portion of the stroke and release of a bowling ball respectively; and 
       FIGS. 4A and 4B  are detailed an exploded perspective and a sectional view taken at line  4 B- 4 B of  FIG. 1  for illustrating the arrangement for personalizing the grip of the bowling device of the invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIGS. 1A and 1B  are completed and partially-exploded perspective views respectively of the bowling practice device  10  of the invention. The device  10  comprises a generally-cylindrical hollow body whose shaped is bounded by an outer wall  12  and a cylindrical inner wall  14 . The outer wall  12  is joined to the cylindrical inner wall  14  by means of tapered end pieces  16 ,  18  to complete the generally-cylindrical shape of the hollow body that comprises the bowling practice device  10 . 
   As will be described below, the device  10  includes features that enable a bowler to develop a consistent arm swing or stroke away from the bowling alley. It includes a number of features, including an aerodynamic design and finger holds that contribute to the exercise and evaluation of stroke consistency. The device  10  allows repetition of motions (at home) that result in the development of muscle memory (grooving) in regard to the bowler&#39;s personal stroke. Such development of muscle memory is readily transferred to the bowling ball and bowling alley. 
   Finger holes are provided for emulating the finger holes of a bowling ball. Two sets of finger holes are provided on the device. A first set or pair of rather small and relatively closely-spaced finger holes  20 ,  22  is provided primarily for children and others who may not require the type of personalized fitting that an experienced bowler (who may have a bowling ball that is fitted to his hand and finger span) may require for optimum benefit. A second pair of finger holes  24 ,  26  is provided that may be fitted to the hand of the bowler. The detailed structure and operation of the elements associated with the adjustable finger holes  24 ,  26  is described below with particular reference to  FIGS. 4A ,  4 B and the associated portions of the specification. 
   Longitudinal stripes  28  are painted or otherwise imprinted upon the outer wall  12  of the device  10 . Such stripes enable the bowler to evaluate the correctness of his posture when first addressing the ball (i.e. prior to the backswing). It is during this portion of the stroke that the bowler initially locks his or her wrist and is critical to the success or the entire stroke. By providing visible longitudinal stipes  28  that are parallel to the imaginary line that connects the centers of the finger holes, the bowler is able to observe when he or she has aligned the “ball” precisely correctly during the addressing phase of the stroke. 
   Additional details of the structure of the device  10  are illustrated by the partially-exploded perspective view of  FIG. 1B . As can be seen, the device  10  comprises a collapsible structure for facilitating transport. In this way, one may store it in a suitcase, for example. This permits reassembly for use in a hotel room during a business or other trip. 
   The outer wall  12  is formed of a plurality of cover sections  32 . Each cover section is, in turn, comprised of an intermediate piece  34  joined (by gluing, for example) at its opposed ends to end pieces  36  and  38 . Each of the end pieces is aerodynamically tapered to join a bottom board  40  which is, in turn, glued to the bottom of the cover section  32 . Each of the cover sections  32  comprises a rugged piece capable of absorbing the shock of collision with a wall when used and is preferably of foam-like composition. Such cover sections  32  are preferably of injection-molded foam rubber, ethylene-vinyl acetate foam or polyethylene foam composition. 
   The curved inner (bottom) surfaces of the bottom boards, when joined together, form the cylindrical inner wall  14  of the device  10 . Pedestals  42 ,  44  are provided adjacent opposed ends of the bottom board  40  having apertures (a central aperture  46  and outer apertures  48 ,  50 ) that serve as female elements for receiving corresponding male members affixed to an assembly ring  52 ,  54 . 
   The assembly rings  52 ,  54  provide a frame onto which the elements of the cowl-like device  10  are fixed. Pairs of barbed inserts  56  and  58  interlock with outer apertures  50  of the pedestal to secure the composite of cover panel  32  and bottom board  40  to the assembly ring  54  while a like arrangement secures the opposed end of the composite to the assembly ring  52 . Similarly, other segments of the device  10  are engaged and fixed at their opposed ends to the assembly rings  52 ,  54  by the interactions of like elements (i.e. a pedestal fixed to a bottom board with apertures aligned to lockingly receive pairs of barbed inserts fixed to an underlying segments of the assembly rings  52  and  54 ). 
   Additionally, a vertical dowel  60  is fixed to the assembly ring  54  intermediate the pairs of barbed inserts  56  and  58 . The dowel  60  is aligned with and received within the central aperture  46  of the pedestal  44 . Such member provides additional strength to the structure of the device  10  which may be subjected to significant forces and shock when contacting, e.g. a wall in a room of a house during use. 
     FIG. 2  is a view of the device of the invention as gripped for use. As can be seen, fingers  62 ,  64  of the bowler&#39;s hand are received in finger holes of the device  10  in like manner and configuration to a bowling ball. The device  10  is preferably about 8.25″ in length, 8.25″ in diameter and weighs between 3 oz. And 12 oz. to provide aerodynamic performance while giving the user the “feel” of a bowling ball. 
   While a finger hole is not provided for the bowler&#39;s thumb  66 , this in no way compromises the effectiveness of the device  10  as a training tool as the role of the thumb  66  is limited to gripping the bowling ball while the fingers  62 ,  64  impart the spin or rotation to the ball upon release that results in “hooking” or curving of the path of travel the bowling ball. 
     FIGS. 3A and 3B  illustrate the invention in use for emulating the address and a portion of the stroke and release of a bowling ball respectively. As discussed above, the longitudinal stripes  28  of the device  10  (aligned parallel with an imaginary line between the centers of the finger holes) enable the user to check for proper wrist alignment prior to the inception of initial stride and backstroke motion by posing as illustrated in  FIG. 3A  front of a mirror. 
   The completion of the stroke and release of the device  10  are illustrated in  FIG. 3B . As can be seen, proper technique requires a snapping of the wrist (or other action to rotate the palm of one&#39;s hand from a horizontal to a vertical attitude) of the bowler as the device  10  (emulating a bowling ball) is released (i.e. as the device is swung between positions  68  and  70 .) Unlike practice with a spherical ball, the device  10  enables one to observe the degree of consistency of the stroke itself and without the influence of such factors as lane conditions. Further, its relatively light weight allows the user to release and direct the device  10  at a target. By consistent contacting of the target, the bowler may gain assurance that, through muscle memory, he or she has effectively grooved his or her stroke. 
     FIGS. 4A and 4B  are detailed exploded perspective and sectional views (taken at line  4 B- 4 B of  FIG. 1A ) for illustrating the arrangement for personalizing the grip of the bowling practice device  10 . Personalizing the device  10  to the user&#39;s grip (i.e. adjusting the distance between finger holes for the natural spread of the user&#39;s hand) will, in many cases, mimic the manner in which the finger holes of the users bowling ball have been drilled to fit his or her hand. In the invention, this is accomplished through selective rotation of finger plugs  72  and  74  that are fitted within apertures  76  and  78  respectively of a cover section  80 . Offset interior channels  81 ,  82  within the finger plugs  72  and  74  respectively provide finger holes for the user. 
   A receptacle, such as receptacle  84  is formed in the upper surface of the bottom board  86  that underlies the cover panel  80  and is aligned with an overlying finger hole  78 . The interior or the receptacle is serrated, having a plurality of inwardly-directed teeth  88  which surround a central aperture  90 . 
   Each finger plug  74  forms part of a three-piece unit (the three pieces being glued together) that includes an underlying finger panel  92  and a finger ring  94 . The finger panel  92  includes a split top surface  96 , each side of which includes an upstanding dowel  98  for fitting and being glued with a corresponding hole on the bottom of the finger plug  74 . An axial, downwardly-directed shaft  100  at the opposed surface of the panel  96  is aligned with, and glued to, a central aperture  102  of the finger ring  94 . Radially-directed nipples  104 ,  106  are aligned and directed outwardly from the periphery of the finger ring  94 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 4B , one may see that the bottom of the shaft  100  is barbed. It thereby holds down the finger panel  92 , causing the finger panel  92  to exert a downward-acting force against the bottom board  86 . Such downward-acting force causes the finger ring  94  (and the opposed nipples  104  and  106  of the ring  94 ) that is glued to the finger panel  92  to exert a downwardly-acting force that causes the nipples  104 ,  106  to become locked in position with respect to the inwardly-directed teeth  88  of the receptacle  84 . Such locking of the position of the nipples  104 ,  106  with respect to the teeth  88  of the receptacle  84  serves to lock the angular position of the de-centered vertical channel  82  that passes through the interior of the finger plug  74  as the finger plug  74 , the finger panel  92  and the finger ring  94  are glued together to form an integral unit. 
   The two integral units comprising the finger plugs  72 ,  74  with de-centered vertical channels  80  and  82  are rotated within the finger holes  76  and  78  respectively so that the radially-directed nipples of the associated finger rings are independently ratcheted through angular positions with respect to the inner-directed teeth of the underlying receptacles of the bottom board  86 . When the two plugs  72  and  74  (and associated finger panels and finger rings) have been rotated to such positions that the distances between the de-centered vertical channels define an appropriate spread or distance therebetween (based, of course, upon the user&#39;s preference), downward pressure is applied to the tops of the plugs  72  and  74  to cause the barbed end of the shaft at the bottom of each finger panel to protrude through the aperture at the center of the underlying receptacle of the bottom board and thereby become engaged in the manner illustrated in  FIG. 4B . Thus, the finger holes are adjusted to the user. 
   Thus it is seen that the present invention provides a practice device for a bowler. By applying the teachings of the invention, one is able to realize the advantages of sustained practice at home. The device of the invention provides a number of features that permit the bowler to both analyze his technique and to recognize his progress while practicing in front of a mirror, in a hotel room, bedroom or other convenient location. 
   While the invention has been described with reference to its presently-preferred embodiment, it is not limited thereto. Rather, the invention is limited only insofar as it is defined by the following set of patent claims and includes within its scope all equivalents thereof.