Abstract:
A bowling ball having an internal weight whose position along a spin axis is adjustable by operation of a drive means which in turn is operative to rotate a threaded nut sleeve that supports the weight. The rotation is about a threaded, non-rotatable weight shaft that extends along the spin axis. This threadably advances the nut sleeve and the weight along the length of the weight shaft, thereby altering the center of gravity and path of the ball after it is released by the bowler.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     Patent application Ser. No. 09/828,605, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,402,630, Bowling Ball, was filed Apr. 6, 2001 in the name of Nelson Tyler, and its subject matter is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a bowling ball having an internal weight whose position is adjustable by a remote controller for altering the path of the ball after it is released by the player. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The conventional way of using a bowling ball is to roll it over the surface of a bowling alley in a direction best calculated to knock over the bowling pins at the far end of the alley. A player has no control over the path of the ball once it is released. 
     The path of travel of the ball can initially be controlled to a certain extent by the spin or hook a player imparts to the ball on release. Beyond the release point there is nothing a player can do to correct the path of an errant ball, much as the player would like otherwise. 
     In U.S. Pat. No. 5,058,901 (Salvino) issued Oct. 22, 1981 the inventor observed that when weight is drilled or otherwise removed from the ball to provide thumb and finger holes, the path of the ball was adversely affected by the resulting change in the center of gravity of the ball. According to the patent, this dynamically unbalanced condition could be corrected by locating a rod along the spin axis of the ball. The consequent increase in weight along that axis was designed to reduce the tendency of the ball to wobble after it was released. The axial position of the rod was adjustable between each use to some position that the player felt would be most likely to establish the best path for the ball as it rolled down the alley. It is likely that precise placement of the rod was not easy to achieve since most players “hook” a ball to a varying extent during play and this, together with other variables such as the state of the bowling alley surface, would make it difficult to consistently reach a predictable result. In any event, the arrangement did not provide any dynamic control of the ball. The system amounted to a trial and error procedure in which a player was always trying to match his bowling results with various fixed positions of a rod in the ball. It was not possible to control the path of the ball after it was released. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,591,177 (Skuse) discloses an invention generally similar to the &#39;901 patent just discussed except that a threaded rod was used. Its axial position was adjusted by rotating it along a threaded bore using a screw driver inserted into an access opening from the exterior of the ball. However, during play the position of the rod was fixed. Dynamic adjustment was neither taught nor suggested as being desirable. 
     A somewhat related arrangement is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,058,310 (Miettinen), except that he uses mercury to alter the location of the ball&#39;s center of gravity. The mercury is located in one of three elongated chambers that extend radially outwardly from the center of the ball. One or the other of these chambers is filled with the mercury through a three-way valve whose rotated position is changed when a chamber is filled with the desired amount of mercury. The stem of the valve extends outwardly from the center of the ball, and is turned by a key that is inserted through the exterior surface of the ball. The key thus controls which chamber is filled, and to what extent. However, like the other patents discussed above, the position of the valve and other adjustable components are fixed and cannot be changed once the ball has been released for travel down the alley. No dynamic control of the ball path is possible. 
     A system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,501,569 (Clark Jr. et al) for remotely and dynamically controlling the location of the center of gravity of a spherical vehicle. The mechanism includes an elongated axle which extends diametrically along the spin axis of the sphere. The ends of the axle are fixed within the sphere, and a frame which supports the axle is rotatable about the transverse or spin axis of the sphere. An axle gear is fixed to the axle and engaged by a pinion gear. The pinion gear is rotatable by the drive shaft of a motor that is attached to the frame. As a consequence, rotation of the pinion gear rotates the motor and frame about the axle. 
     Attached to the frame is the inner end of a radially extending pendulum arm whose outer end carries a mass or weight. The frame includes an integral arcuate gear rack that is engaged by the pinion gear of a servo motor which, like the weight, is mounted to the pendulum arm. Rotation of the servo motor thus causes the arcuate gear segment and weight to rotate to one side or the other of the spin axis along which the axle extends. 
     The servo motor is operable by a remotely located radio transmitter whereby adjustment of the location of the center of gravity of the mass is done dynamically. 
     A similar result is achieved by the system of U.S. Pat. No. 4,726,800(Kobayashi). A spherical toy includes a center-shaft extending along the spin axis of the toy. The system is controlled by a remotely located radio transmitter that operates a radio receiver within the toy. The receiver operates a battery to energize a servo motor whose output or drive shaft is coupled to a relatively complex connecting structure. This structure is operative to move a direction control means to one side or the other of an axis generally perpendicular to the spin axis of the toy. Such movement adjusts the location of the center of gravity of the toy for dynamically adjusting the path of the toy as it rotates on its spin axis. Although the path axis of the toy is controll remotely by radio signals from a radio transmitter, the structure which uses these control signals to relocate the center of gravity is complex and consequently expensive and time consuming to manufacture and maintain. 
     In my copending patent application Ser. No. 09/828,605, the direction or path axis of a bowling ball is dynamically adjusted as it travels down a bowling alley by moving an internal weight along the spin axis of the ball. This adjusts the location of the center of gravity of the ball and thus the path of the ball. The internally threaded weight is prevented from rotating about the externally threaded weight shaft, but the weight shaft is rotatable so that it can threadably move the weight along the shaft axis. A disclosure of this system is included in the present application to facilitate understanding of the structural differences between such a system and the system of the present invention, and particularly the utilization in this system of a weight shaft that is fixed against rotation. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Thus, according to the present invention the weight shaft is non-rotatable. In one embodiment the motor is made integral with the weight and both are axially slidable upon interior walls of the bowling ball. However, they are constrained against rotation by their engagement with the walls. 
     A motor gear on the output shaft of the motor rotates a drive gear which is frictionally engaged with a threaded nut sleeve. The nut sleeve is threadably carried by the weight shaft and is rotatably supported within the weight by rotatable bearings. When the friction between the nut sleeve and the drive gear is sufficiently great, rotation of the drive gear rotates the nut sleeve such that the nut sleeve rotates and threadably advances the nut sleeve and the weight along the length of the non-rotatable weight shaft, thereby adjusting the center of gravity of the ball. However, when such friction is low, the nut sleeve will slip and not be rotated by the drive gear. Adjustment of the degree of frictional engagement is provided by a clutch spring washer that is disposed between the drive gear and the nut sleeve. 
     This function of the clutch spring washer is useful if the nut sleeve has been rotated in one direction or the other along the length of the weight shaft to an end stop on the shaft. The torque of the drive gear then becomes insufficient to rotate the nut sleeve, and the clutch spring washer then slips, thereby preventing damage which might occur if the nut sleeve could not slip and is forcibly urged against the fixed end stop. 
     In another embodiment of the present system the motor is a standard rotor-stator motor in which the stator is integral with the weight and both the stator and the weight are constrained against rotation by engagement of the weight with the interior walls of the bowling ball, but are axially slidable over the walls. The rotor is fixed to a nut sleeve which is threaded onto the weight shaft. When the stator is energized, it cannot rotate but the rotor and nut sleeve are rotatable about the fixed weight so that the nut sleeve can move axially along the length of the weight shaft to adjust the center of gravity of the ball. 
     In certain situations use of those embodiments which include a fixed weight shaft is advantageous compared to the embodiments disclosed in my copending patent application which employ a rotatable weight shaft. 
     Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an enlarged longitudinal cross section of the bowling ball, illustrating the pair of hemispherical sections that are joined together to form a spherical bowling ball having a hollow interior for housing a frame that supports the weight and the motor shaft; 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross section taken along the line  2 — 2  of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross section of the nut sleeve, drive motor and clutch arrangement; 
     FIG. 4 is a view of the ball taken along the line  4 — 4  of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the motor, pulley and pulley belt assembly that is housed within a cavity of the upper one of the hemispherical sections of the ball, with the adjacent ball structure shown in cross section; 
     FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the present bowling ball, illustrating in dotted outline the location and form of one arrangement of finger holes; 
     FIG. 7 is a cross section of the hollow interior of another form of ball in which the ends of the motor shaft are fixed to the interior wall of a three piece spherical ball so that the shaft is non-rotatable, with the weight being integral with the motor; 
     FIG. 8 is a view taken along the line  8 — 8  of FIG. 7; 
     FIG. 9 is a view taken along the line  9 — 9  of FIG. 7; 
     FIG. 10 is a view taken along the line  10 — 10  of FIG. 9; 
     FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 7, but showing another embodiment similar to that of FIG. 7 in which the end sections of the spherical ball receive and support the opposite ends of a battery pack without the use of fasteners; and 
     FIG. 12 is a transverse cross sectional view of an embodiment of a bowling ball which employs a rotor-stator motor similar to that of FIG. 1, but wherein the motor elements are housed within the axially movable weight. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1-6, a typical spherical bowling ball is illustrated that is adapted to be rolled down a bowling alley or lane (not shown), and hooked so that it follows a curved path to the pins. However, the ball is modified according to the present invention by omitting the usual straight and radially inwardly directed thumb and finger holes which allow a player to hook the ball. Instead, holes are provided which enable a player to throw the ball along a relatively straight path. 
     FIGS. 1-6 and descriptions of these figures are set forth in my copending patent application Ser. No. 09/828,605. In this application no claim is made to the structures disclosed. The figures are included in this application only because it is believed that this will facilitate an understanding of the structures disclosed and described in this application. 
     Both of the embodiments of FIGS. 1-6 show a substantially horizontal, transversely oriented spin axis  10  about which the ball rotates as it travels down the bowling alley. FIG. 6 illustrates a particular form and arrangement of finger holes used in one of these embodiments, and preferred for use in other ball embodiments of the present application. 
     As seen, the finger holes  12  are located on a centerline that extends generally parallel to the spin axis  10 , and each is directed generally inwardly and forwardly to form a shelf or ledge  14 . This has been found to produce satisfactory results, but any of various other forms and locations of holes can be used if desired. 
     The spherical outer portions  18  of the ball are defined by a pair of hemispheres  20  and  22  which form an internal cavity that includes a hollow weight chamber  30 . An externally threaded weight  42  is rotatably supported at its ends by bearings  36  carried by the frame. 
     An internally threaded weight  42  is rotatably mounted to the shaft  32  and includes a flat outer face that slidably engages a complemental face  43  of the frame to prevent rotation of the weight when the weight shaft  32  is rotated, while permitting axial movement of the weight. 
     In the first embodiment of the system described in my copending application, as seen in FIG. 1, the drive means or motor used comprises a stator  46  fixed to the frame  28 , and a rotor  48  carried by the weight shaft  32  for rotating the weight shaft  32 . Energization of the stator windings in one direction will rotate the weight shaft  32  in one direction, while energization of the stator windings in the opposite direction will oppositely rotate the weight shaft  32 . 
     The stator is coupled to batteries  50  mounted externally of the frame within a hollow interior or spaces adjacent the frame. Energization of the stator to move the weight  42  in one direction or the other is controlled by a radio receiver  54  mounted to the frame  28  and connected by suitable leads to the stator  46 , batteries  50 , and to a microswitch or optical sensor  56 . 
     When the stator  46  has been energized for a predetermined time interval to move the weight in one direction or the other, the sensor is operative to energize the stator  46  until the weight  42  is re-centered within the frame. This enables the weight to then be moved in either direction from the re-centered position, rather than from an extreme position near one end or the other of the weight shaft  32 . Location of the weight in the centered position is desirable when the ball is released and begins to spin or roll. 
     The radio receiver  54  is operable by radio signals transmitted by a remotely located hand held transmitter  60 . This allows a single player to throw the ball and thereafter control the ball direction. Alternatively, it allows one player of a two player team to throw the ball, with the second player operating the transmitter  60 . The throwing member of the team tries to release the ball in such a way that there is little or no hooking which could cause the ball to deviate from a straight path toward the pins. To the extent that it does not follow a straight path, the task of the other team member is to correct this by operating the transmitter  60  in such a way that the position of the weight  42  on the weight shaft is adjusted to adjust the location of the center of gravity of the weight. 
     The second embodiment of the copending patent application, shown in FIG. 3, is substantially the same as that shown in FIG. 3 except that the motor  45  for rotating the weight shaft  32  is located externally of the frame, and the motor and associated components are located within cavities on opposite sides of the weight  42 . 
     A pulley  76  on the end of the motor shaft  74  is coupled to a belt  80  to rotate a pulley that is mounted on the weight shaft  32 . This second embodiment is different from the first embodiment primarily in the type of motor and its external location to simplify and reduce manufacturing costs. 
     Coming now to the embodiments of the present invention, as seen in FIGS.  7 - 10 , they are different in important respects compared to the just described embodiments of my copending application. Where the structures are identical they are assigned the same numbers as are used in the patent application; where they are not identical but similar in function they are assigned the same number but with a lower case letter; and where the parts are substantially different they are assigned a new number. 
     In FIGS. 7-10 a spherical bowling ball  18   a  is illustrated which comprises end caps  80  and  82  that are joined to opposite sides of a central ring  84  so that their outer surfaces form the spherical outer surface of the ball. Their inner surfaces define a hollow interior  86  which includes a weight chamber  88  and a battery cavity  90  for holding batteries  50   a.  An externally threaded weight shaft  92  extends parallel to the spin axis  10  of the ball, and its opposite ends are closely received within circular support brackets  94  which are suitably attached to the end walls of the battery cavity  90 . 
     The threaded ends of a pair of threaded bolts  96  are disposed within smaller diameter threaded bores in the ends of the weight shaft  92 . The bolt heads  98  are received within circular inserts  100  that are seated within complemental cavities in the end caps  80  and  82 , respectively. This arrangement securely holds the weight shaft  92  in position and fixes or constrains it against any rotation, while also performing the important function of clamping the end caps  80  and  82  to the central ring  84 . This assembly is much simpler and less expensive to manufacture compared to that set forth in my copending patent application Ser. No. 09/828,605. 
     The end caps  80  and  82  include receiver slots  102  which closely receive the ends of the batteries  50   a  to hold them in place without any need for fasteners. Likewise, the caps  80  and  82  included receiver slots  104  which closely receive the ends of a circuit board  106  that mounts electronic components which are connected to the batteries  50   a,  the radio receiver (not shown) which receives the control signals from the handheld remote transmitter, and the micro switch (not shown) associated with the weight re-centering system. 
     Use of the circumferentially continuous central ring  84  allows the ball to roll about is spin axis  10  without any annoying thumping sounds which occur in a two piece ball when the ball rolls across the joint between the two pieces. 
     A balance weight  42   a  includes a motor chamber  64   a  having an open end through which a motor  45   a  is mounted, as best seen in FIG. 10, so that the motor  45   a  forms an integral weight component of the weight  42   a.    
     The system omits any frame or frame parts like the frame halves  28   a  and  28   b  used in the embodiment of FIG.  1 . This simplifies the ball structure and reduces the weight of the bowling ball. 
     An internally threaded nut sleeve  108  is mounted upon the externally threaded weight shaft  92 , and a pair of end bearings  110  are disposed between the weight  42   a  and the nut sleeve  108 , as best seen in FIG. 10. A bearing plate  112  is screw fastened to one end of the nut sleeve  108  to hold the adjacent bearing  110  in position. The opposite bearing  110  is held in position by a circumferential flange  116  of the nut sleeve  108 . 
     The gear  118  is rotatable by a motor drive gear  120  which is fixedly attached to the output shaft of the motor. As best seen in FIG. 10, a clutch adjust nut  122  is threaded onto the adjacent end of the nut sleeve  108 . It can be tightened or loosened to adjust the frictional force developed by the clutch spring  114  when the nut sleeve drive gear  118  is rotated relative to the flange  116  of the nut sleeve  108 . The adjustment is such that normally there is sufficient frictional force to rotate the nut sleeve  108 . However, when the nut sleeve  108  reaches an end travel limit, that is, too close to one of the ends of the weight shaft  92 , the clutch spring  114  will slip so that the gears  120  and  118  will not be forcibly jammed together, as they would be should the re-centering micro switch (not shown) fail to operate. 
     The major advantages provided by the embodiment of FIGS. 7-10 are that the motor  45   a  is carried by the weight  42   a,  thereby utilizing the weight of the motor  45   a  as part of the weight  42   a  in a compact arrangement; the cooperating gears  118  and  120  are simpler and less expensive than pulley and belt arrangements and provide a straightforward stepdown of the higher motor RPM to the lower nut sleeve RPM; the weight shaft  92  is fixed against rotation; and the clutch spring washer  114  prevents overruns of the nut sleeve  108  that could damage elements such as the drive gears and motor. 
     FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate another embodiment which in some ways is a combination of the embodiment of FIGS. 7-10 and that of FIG. 1, particularly in that it employs a motor  45   b  having a stator  46   b  and a rotor  48   b.  The stator  46   b  and rotor  48   b  are both carried within the hollow interior  86   b  of the weight  42   b,  thereby providing added weight to augment the weight of the weight  42   b.  The arrangement is desirably compact, which is evident in a comparison of FIGS. 7 and 11. 
     Although not shown, a face  124  of the weight  42   b  engages a complemental inner surface of an inner wall of the central ring  84  so that rotation of the nut sleeve  108   b  will not rotate the weight  42   b,  but will instead threadably move it axially along the threaded weight shaft  92 . 
     Energization of the stator  46   b  to move the weight  42   b  in one direction or the other is controlled by a radio receiver (not shown) which is operated by radio signals from a remotely located hand held transmitter (not shown), as in the other embodiments, and as described in more detail in my copending patent application. As previously indicated, this makes it possible for an individual bowler or one member of a bowling team to release the ball for rotation about its spin axis  10 . The bowler or other team member then adjusts the center of gravity of the ball by operating the remote transmitter to properly locate the internal weight. 
     While preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be apparent that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.