Patent Publication Number: US-6658669-B1

Title: Bowler&#39;s finger support and control

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     In order for a bowler to have the greatest advantage in his attempt to consistently score the maximum number of pins, the bowling ball is released from one or more of the middle fingers by applying pressure to ball through the bowling ball finger holes in a complex motion known to those skilled in the art as lift, Lift, as known in bowling and as shown for example in U.S. Pat. 4,371,163 of Shaffer, means imparting to the ball the two rotary motions of roll and spin. To achieve roll, tie ball is made to rotate in a forward and downward direction relative to the horizontal axis alone the direction of travel of the ball toward the pins and to achicve spin, the ball is made to rotate with a rotational component about the vertical axis of the ball, as viewed from above a ball thrown with the right hand. It is the spin that causes a desired scattering of the falling pins, increasing the chance for a strike. 
     A stated above, this complex motion of imparting two rotary motions of roll and spin is known to those skilled in the art as lift. Lift is produced, after the thumb has been removed from the ball, by one or more of the middle fingers applying a force to the ball at its release to rotate the ball upward, imparting the desired roll and spin. To perform this operation in the best manner requires the bowler, in releasing the ball, to consistently apply his maximum force through one or more of the bowler&#39;s middle fingers, against the interior surface of the bowling ball finger hole. In bowling, this operation is repealed from a minimum of twelve for a perfect game, to a maximum of twenty one times, depending on the bowler&#39;s success in scoring a strike or spare in the last regular frame. Multiplied by a number of games, for example in league play, there is typically three full games with a minimum of thirty six ball released to it maximum of sixty three balls released. The multiplied acts of bowling, involving lifting the ball on its release, produces multiple strains and stresses on the bowler&#39;s finger. Critical to properly lifting and releasing the bowling ball, is maintaining the best possible positioning of the middle finger or fingers against the bowling hall hole, to consistently apply the proper amount of lift to the ball. As the hard surface of the bowling ball finger hole is continually forced against the bowler&#39;s extended finger, producing stress and strain in the finger, the ability of the bowler to maintain consistent control through middle ringer or fingers at the ball release, is reduced, detrimentally affecting the bowler&#39;s ability to consistently lift the ball and consistently score strikes. 
     In attempts to adjust the curved position of the finger, a strap was used as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,152,337 and 3,880,426. As shown therein the strap was adjustable relative to an anchor point on the wrist. However the devices as shown in these patents placed the strap in a straight line locus from the curved finger tip area to the anchor point, imposing a space between the strap and the finger and palm. The size or depth of the space was relative to the adjustment made to the position of the finger tip, the amount of tension applied to the strap, the curve produced in the finger, and the relative placement or disposition of the strap to the wrist anchor point. As a consequence, when the bowler placed his finger into the bowling ball finger hole with the finger and palm forced against the ball, the strap extending in a line from the curved finger to the wrist anchor point, was forced against the finger and palm, changing the straight line locus of the strap from the finger to the anchor point, to a curved line locus from the finger to the palm and changing the original adjustment to the strap and its force on the finger, as previously made by the bowler. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     As shown herein, in a preferred embodiment, this invention according to the inventive principles disclosed, in an embodiment is an adjustable tensioning strap mounted in a glove adapted to be worn on the bowling hand and connecting or terminating at a first end proximate the glove finger tip or a finger pad protector placed at the glove finger tip and disposed opposite the position of the bowler&#39;s finger pad, and at a second end, at an anchor point proximate the glove part enclosing the wrist or palm. The tensioning strap, from its first end to its second end, is held adjacent the glove lining so when placed on the hand and with tension applied to the tensioning strap, a curve is produced in the finger while the tensioning strap is held or forced by the glove toward and substantially adjacent the bowler&#39;s finger and palm, and describing a curved line locus from the first end to the second end of the tensioning strap and with the curved locus substantially adjacent the length of the bowler&#39;s finger or palm. 
     The tensioning strap may be adjusted relative to the second anchor point proximate the glove palm or wrist, by applying a tensioning force in a direction away from the finger tip and in the direction from the finger to the wrist and whereby the tensioning force on the tensioning strap will serve to draw the finger into a curved position with the finger tip pulled toward the wrist. The adjustment is variable depending upon the needs of the individual bowler when grasping the bowling ball and when in the initial part of the ball release when the bowler&#39;s arm is in an up swing, and when the bowler is starting his release by initiating a lifting force through the middle fingers, as would be known to those skilled in the art. 
     In accordance with the principles of the disclosed invention, the tension strap may be an elastic material, stretching or elongating under a tension force or substantially non-elastic and substantially not stretching or elongating under a tension force, according to the disclosed principles of the invention as shown for a preferred embodiment. When substantially non-elastic, the tension strap may be adjusted with the middle finger in an extended or neutral position, relative to a curved or flexed position, to resist the force of the bowling ball at release and to support the middle finger from being forced backward in a hyper-extended position where stress or strain would be imposed on the finger. For an elastic tension strap, the elastic resistance to a tension force may be varied to produce a restoring force in the tension strap when the middle finger is extended in a neutral position, to substantially to resist the force of the bowling ball at release and to support the middle finger from being forced backward in a hyper-extended position where stress or strain would be imposed on the finger. 
     The tensioning strap may be an elastic or stretchable material so the finger may be extended against the tensioning force of the strap in the process of releasing and lifting the ball. In this way the curved position of the finger and the force holding the finger in its curved position and through its extended position when releasing and lifting the bowling ball, as explained above, may be adjusted by each individual bowler. As the restoring force exerted by an elastic material is proportional to its stretched extension, relative to its relaxed or rest position, as would be known by those skilled in the art, the force exerted by the tensioning strap against the finger is proportionally greatest when the finger is fully extended. This restoring force produced in the tensioning strap, acts in the direction of finger flexure and away from the finger tip and towards the palm or wrist, to force the finger to retain its adjusted curved position and to resist the force of the bowling ball on the bowler&#39;s finger at the ball release which is a direction of finger hyper extension, forcing the curve of the finger to open or if the finger is fully extended, to force the finger back past an extended neutral position into a hyper extended position and placing additional strain and stress on the finger. The adjustment made by the bowler using the tensioning strap adjustment and the force of the adjusted tensioning strap against the finger tip, adjusts the bowler&#39;s finger into an adjusted curved position, whereby the tensioning strap force can resist or counter balance the opposite force of the bowling ball against the finger tip in the direction of hyper extension, at the ball release and thereby reduce the stress and strain placed on the finger. 
     According to the principles of the disclosed invention, the finger pad protector may comprise a finger pad protector protecting the finger pad and a part of the finger extending from the finger pad toward the first or second finger joint. 
     As force is applied to the tensioning strap, forcing the finger toward an adjusted curved position, the tension force in the tensioning strap will be forcing the locus described by the tensioning strap into a straight line. However, according to the principles of the disclosed invention, and as disclosed in a preferred embodiment, herein, a substantially transverse force is applied to the tensioning strap forcing it in a locus described by a curved line substantially following the adjusted curve of the finger. 
     As shown in a preferred embodiment, and according to the principles of the disclosed invention, the force holding the tensioning strap adjacent the finger and palm, may be produced by the glove lining forming a conduit for the tension strap and which forces the locus of the tension strap from its first connection proximate the finger tip or finger pad to the second adjustable connection, into an adjusted curved position, as described by a line from the first tension strap connection to the second tension strap connection, substantially following the adjusted curve of the finger and substantially adjacent the finger or palm. In this way, there is substantially no space imposed between the tensioning strap and the finger or palm, as in the patents cited above, to be taken or removed when the bowler grips the ball, and the locus of the tensioning strap as initially adjusted, is not affected when the bowler places his finger in the bowling ball hole and forces the glove and tensioning strap disposed substantially adjacent finger and palm, against thee bowling ball surface. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to use a tension strap to adjust the curved position of the bowler&#39;s finger and to support the bowler&#39;s finger against the force of the bowling ball, when the bowler&#39;s is extending the finger in the release and lifting of the bowling ball. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the tensioning strap may be on a non elastic material and adjusted to be held in tension when the finger is substantially in its extended or neutral position. Where the tensioning strap is not flexible or non-elastic, it provides a counter force against a force against the finger tip in the direction past the neutral position and into a hyper extended position. In operation, the non-elastic tensioning strap is adjusted with the middle finger in the extended neutral position. As the tension strap is held in tension, the force from the bowling ball produced when the ball is released and in the direction against the finger tip, forcing the finger into a hyper extended position, is substantially counterbalanced by the force in the tension strap, thereby supporting the finger and preventing hyper-extension. To prevent hyper extension of the middle finger from a neutral position and in a preferred embodiment where the tension strap is elastic, the tension strap may be adjusted so the elastic restoring force produced in the stretched tension strap, substantially counterbalances the force of the bowling ball against the middle finger in the direction of hyper extending the middle finger. 
     The following is shown and described according to the disclosed inventive principles. 
     A bowler&#39;s glove covering the bowler&#39;s middle finger and hand, and proximate the bowler&#39;s wrist and including an adjustable tensioning strap to adjust the middle finger into a curved position and to anchor the tensioning strap in the adjusted curved position, comprising, a first means connected at a first end proximate a middle finger tip, for applying a first force to said middle finger; said first means including a second means for adjustment of said first means for adjusting said middle finger to an adjusted curved position; third means for anchoring said second means, proximate the wrist; d. fourth means for retaining said first means substantially against the length of said middle finger opposed to said first means, when said middle finger is in said adjusted curved position. 
     A bowler&#39;s glove enclosing a bowler&#39;s hand and at least one middle finger, comprising, an adjustable connection; a tension strap adjustably connected by said adjustable connection and to said middle finger; said tension strap responsive to a displacement of said adjustable connection for applying a tension force to said middle finger for placing said middle finger part into an adjusted curved position;said hand and said middle finger including a conduit, whereby said tension strap is retained inside said conduit and against said middle finger part substantially opposed to said tension strap, when said middle finger is in said adjusted curved position. 
     All of the patents cited above are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 shows the bowler&#39;s fingers in an extended position in the release of the bowling ball with the tension straps shown in phantom mounted in a right handed glove and extending from proximate the finger tip to an anchor point proximate the bowler&#39;s wrist, and with the straps anchoring the tension strap in a closed or anchor position. 
     FIG. 2 shows the glove of FIG. 1 in a view toward the palm and on a left handed bowler with the tension straps shown in phantom, adjusted to produce a curve in the middle fingers and with the wrist mounted anchor straps open. and the tension strap anchor tabs exposed for view. 
     FIG. 3 shows a cross section of the glove finger proximate the finger pad and with tension strap between the glove inner and outer layers and with finger pad protector located proximate the finger tip. 
     FIG. 3 a  shows the cross section of the glove finger of FIG. 3 with the tension strap in a conduit adjacent the glove outer lining but without the finger pad protector as shown in FIG. 3, for the purpose of explanation. 
     FIG. 3 b  shows the cross section of the glove finger of FIG. 3 with the tension strap in a conduit adjacent the glove outer lining. 
     FIG. 3 b  shows the cross section of the glove finger of FIG. 3 with the tension strap it a conduit adjacent the glove inner lining but without the finger pad protector as shown in FIG. 3, for the purpose of explanation. 
     FIG. 5 shows the glove of FIG. 1 with bowler&#39;s fingers in an adjusted curved position when starting the release of the bowling ball. 
     FIG. 6 shows the bowler&#39;s fingers in an extended position in the release of the bowling ball with the tension straps shown in phantom mounted within an exterior conduit in a left handed glove and with the exterior conduit extending from proximate the finger tip to an anchor point proximate the bowler&#39;s wrist, and with the straps anchoring the tension strap in a closed or anchor position. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the drawings shown herein, the same numerals are used to show the same or similar parts. 
     FIG. 1 shows the invention in a bowler&#39;s right handed bowling glove  11  with thumb opening  13  for thumb  15 . The bowler&#39;s glove is shown on the bowler&#39;s right hand with the bowler&#39;s finger tips  18 , inside the bowling ball  17 , finger holes  19 , at the moment of the ball release and with the fingers  21  extended in a substantially neutral position, as would be known to those skilled in the art of bowling, to lift the ball and impart rotation and spin. In FIG. 1, two middle fingers  21  are shown but as would be known to those skilled in the art, any combination of middle fingers may be used to lift and release the ball and the inventive principles are not limited to the number or combination of fingers used to bowl. 
     Finger pad protectors  23  are shown proximate the glove finger tips  18 . The finger pad protectors  23  add additional protection for the finger tips  18  from the force of the bowling ball at its release. The finger pad protectors according to a preferred embodiment, may be limited to the finger tip or may extend to the first finger joint. Tension straps  25  are shown (in phantom) in a path or locus between the inner and outer glove layers and extending from a first connection  28  (shown in FIGS.  2 , 4 , and  5 ), generally shown proximate the finger tips  18  to a second connection at an anchor point  27  (shown in FIG.  1 ), proximate the bowler&#39;s wrist  29  or palm  30 . 
     The invention shown in FIG. 1 is shown in FIG. 2, reversed in a left handed glove with the same or similar parts having the same numerals. The use of a right handed glove in FIG. 1 and a left handed glove in FIG. 2 is made to demonstrate the invention may be used by right or left handed bowlers without departing from the principles of the disclosed invention. The tension straps  25  are shown in a preferred embodiment for example, terminated at first connection point  49 , proximate the finger tip shown in FIG. 4 at a location which is proximate the finger tips  18  and finger pad protector  23  and which may be varied in that proximately given location as shown and described with reference to FIG.  1  and FIG. 2, herein The tension strap  25  connection  49 , is shown as stitched to the glove lining, shown generally in FIG. 4 by numeral  42 , but as would be known to anyone skilled in the art, any suitable connection of the tensioning strap to the finger tip may be used, as now or hereafter known. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the tension straps  25  are placed between the inner lining  41  and outer lining  43  of the glove and held thereby substantially adjacent the opposed finger and palm as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The tensioning straps may be brought out of the glove lining at glove openings  35  and terminated in anchoring tabs  37  which are used to hold the tensioning strap in its adjusted position, in connection with anchor straps  39 , as shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, in an open position and in FIG,  1  and  5 , in a closed position, as explained below. The tension straps  25  may be retained substantially adjacent the glove lining as shown by placing the tensioning straps within a conduit formed by the glove lining as showing in FIGS. 3 and 4 or an adjacent conduit formed exterior, or interior to the glove outer or inner lining, respectively, as would be understood by those skilled in the art from a description of a preferred embodiment and according to the inventive principles disclosed herein. The conduit may be formed as shown within the glove inner and outer linings as shown in FIG. 3, or as shown in FIG. 3 a , by an additional layer forming a conduit  55  placed contiguous to the outer lining or exterior  43  as shown in FIG. 3 a , and in FIG. 6, or by an additional layer forming a conduit  57  contiguous to inner lining or interior  41 , as shown in FIG. 3 b . For the purpose of explanation, the finger pad protector  23 , shown in FIG. 3, is not shown in FIG. 3 a  or  3   b , but which would be understood by those skilled in the art as located proximate the finger tip  18 , as shown in FIGS. 1,  2 ,  4 ,  5  and  6 . As would be understood by those skilled in the art from a description of a preferred embodiment and disclosure of the inventive principles, herein, the conduit  57  enclosing tension strap  25 , may be placed in the interior of the glove lining, shown generally in FIG. 4 by numeral  42 , adjacent inner lining  41 . According to the disclosed inventive principles, a separate conduit, as shown by numeral  57  in FIG. 3 b , may be attached to the inner lining  41  of the glove lining  42  and the tension  25  strap contained therein, without departing from the disclosed inventive principles. As would be understood by those skilled in the art from a description of a preferred embodiment and disclosure of the inventive principles, herein, the conduit  57 , enclosing tension strap  25 , may be placed adjacent the inner lining  41  and its counterpart conduit  55  may be placed adjacent the outer lining  43 , of the glove lining shown generally by numeral  42  without departing from the disclosed inventive principles. 
     The means for anchoring the tensioning strap at the second connection may be anchor tab  37  as shown in a preferred embodiment which may be made with a VELCRO hook and loop type, fastening material for cooperation as known to those skilled in the art, with VELCRO hook and loop type, fastening material on straps  39 , and with a VELCRO hook and loop type, fastening material on complementary strap surface  40 . As would be apparent to those skilled in the art, the VELCRO hook and loop type, fastening material surfaces could be reversed and other means known by those skilled in the art could be used to anchor the tensioning strap in its adjusted position, without departing from the principles of the disclosed invention. 
     In operation, the anchor tabs  37 , as shown for a preferred embodiment, can be pulled in the direction of arrow  47 , away from the opposed tensioning straps  25  and the first connection  28  proximate the finger tips  18 , thereby pulling the fingers tips  18  and the fingers  21  into an adjusted curved position, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, relative to its extended position as shown in FIG.  1 . In FIGS. 2 and 5, the two middle fingers are shown foreshortened in FIG.  2  and curved in FIG. 5, as pulled into a curved position by displacing the anchor tabs  37  in the direction of arrow  47  and drawing the finger tips  18  toward the anchor strap  39 , so the curved fingers are flexed and concave relative to a view from the palm. 
     The straps  39  upper and lower linings and the surface of the anchor tab  37 , may be made of complementary VELCRO hook and loop type, fastening material, so one of the straps  39 , for example the right side strap as shown in FIG. 2, may be wrapped over the anchor tabs  37  in their adjusted position, locking the anchor tab  37  in place, and then the second strap or left side strap, may be wrapped over the first strap with the opposed straps engaged by their respective complementary VELCRO hook and loop type fastening material surfaces. 
     According to the inventive principles disclosed, the adjustment made to the tensioning straps and the adjusted amount of curvature of the middle finger  21  may be made variable by the variable displacement of the tension straps  25  by an adjustable transverse displacement of anchor tabs  37  relative to the second connection anchor point proximate the wrist  29  or palm  30 , with the curvature of the finger increasing as the tensioning straps  25  and the anchor tabs  37  are pulled in the direction of arrow  47  transverse across the bowler&#39;s wrist  29  and the cooperating parts of straps  39 , and thereby applying a tension force to the tensioning straps  25  and through the tensioning straps  25 , a force to the finger tips  18  to pull the finger tips toward the palm or wrist and into an adjusted curved position. 
     According to the disclosed inventive principles, the tension strap  25  may be an elastic material which allows the bowler to extend the middle finger  21  from its adjusted curved position as shown in FIG.  2  and FIG.  5 . as when the ball is grasped, to its extended position as shown in FIG. 1, when the ball is released and lift is applied to the ball. A suitable elastic material would be known to those skilled in the art and does not form a part of the invention. The elastic material of the tension straps  25  produces all increasing flexing force on the finger tips  18  as the bowler is extending the gloved finger when releasing the ball anti applying lift to the ball, thereby forcing the finger toward its flexed or adjusted curved position. This increasing flexing force is directed against the extension of the finger and provides a counter force to the force of the bowling ball against the finger  21  which is directed in the hyper-extended position past the neutral position and which produces stress and strain on the finger. The elastic tension force may be adjusted by varying the elastic equality or quantity of the tension strap so the elastic restoring force, when the middle finger is fully extend my substantially counter balance the force of the bowling ball. 
     The anchor tabs  37  and the straps  39 , and complementary strap surface  40 , may be varied or changed, is would be known to those skilled in the art, to another suitable fastening device, without departing from the disclosed principles of the invention. In a preferred embodiment, complementary VELCRO hook and loop type, fastening material surfaces, are shown as a suitable means for fastening and holding the anchor tabs  37  in their adjusted position. In connection with anchor straps  39  and the length of the  39  anchor tabs  37 , the respective length may be varied or other suitable anchoring means may be used as would be now or hereafter known by those skilled in the art, to extend the displacement range for displacing or moving the anchor tabs  37  or the tensioning strap  25  over and across the anchor means shown as strap  39 , in the direction of arrow  47 . According to the principles of the disclosed invention, while two anchor tabs  37  are shown, one or a combination of two or more anchor tabs may be used. 
     FIG. 5 shows the glove of FIGS. 1 and 2 with the fingers  25  in an adjusted curve position and with the tension straps  25  substantially adjacent the finger and palm. The anchor tabs  37  are shown under the straps  39  and in locked position. 
     What has been shown and disclosed herein is a bowler&#39;s glove with, a tensioning strap adjustably connected at a first location proximate the finger tip and at a second location proximate the wrist or palm, and with the adjustable connection being adapted to force the finger tip into a flexed or an adjusted curved position and with the glove holding the tensioning strap in an substantially adjacent relation with the finger or palm when the finger is in its adjusted curved position. The tensioning strap is shown as an elastic material so the force restoring the finger to its adjusted curved position when the finger is extended, as shown in FIG. 1, as for example when releasing the bowling ball, is directed to force the finger in the direction of flexure and toward its adjusted curved position. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the tension straps  25 , as shown in FIG. 1, may be may of a non-elastic or non-stretchable material. When the non-elastic tensioning strap is adjusted with the finger held in tension by the tension strap  25  in a neutral position, for example, the tension strap  25  will resist the force of the bowling ball against the finger pad protector  23  and the finger tip  18 , substantially preventing the finger from being forced into a hyper-extended position, supporting the finger and reducing stress or strain from the force of the bowling ball in its release. 
     As would be understood by those skilled in the art, by neutral position of the middle finger is meant the natural position of the finger fully extended. Flexure means bending of the finger in its natural curved position. Hyper-extension is the opposite of flexure and means bending of the finger past its neutral position. 
     As would be understood by those skilled in the art, the materials or locations of the elements shown to adjust the finger into its adjusted curved position or in its extended position and to hold the tension straps substantially against the finger, may be varied without departing from the disclosed principles of the disclosed and claimed invention.