Abstract:
A bowler&#39;s finger support encloses a middle finger used in the release of the ball and applies a radially inward compressive force substantially to the underside of the finger to resist the hyperextending force produced on release of the ball.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
       [0001]     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. No. 4,371,163 of Shaffer, means imparting to the ball the two rotary motions of roll and spin. To achieve roll, the ball is made to rotate in a forward and downward direction relative to the horizontal axis along the direction of travel of the ball toward the pins and to achieve 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.  
         [0002]     As 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 repeated 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 a 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 ball 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 irritation in the finger, the ability of the bowler to maintain consistent control through middle finger or fingers at the ball release, is reduced, detrimentally affecting the bowler&#39;s ability to consistently lift the ball and consistently score strikes.  
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
       [0003]     This invention according to its inventive principles, prevents or reduces the amount of physical stress suffered by a bowler is repeatedly lifting the ball at its release, from the force of the ball against the releasing fingers. Bowling is a game of repeated consistent physical motion, designed to use the physical structure of the bowler&#39;s hand to apply a force to the ball in a particular intended manner, with the counter forces against the bowler&#39;s fingers causing internal damage to the muscles and tendons of the fingers at the areas of most stress, as produced by those counter forces. As the proper release of the ball as explained above, requires the bowler to apply a driving force to the ball at its release, extending the releasing fingers to apply a force through the finger tips while absorbing the ball&#39;s counter force against the driving fingers, stress is produced in the tendons and muscles of the releasing fingers, from the palm to the finger tips, causing irritation and damage to the muscles, tendons and their connections to the bone.  
         [0004]     This invention, according to its inventive principles, as disclosed in a preferred embodiment, operates to reduce or prevent the counter force produced in the release of the ball, from causing stress or strain, on the bowler&#39;s releasing finger and from irritating or damaging the finger&#39;s muscles and tendons. The invention as disclosed according to its inventive principles, uses a means to clamp or to apply pressure and force to the bottom of the fingers and to the muscles and tendons arranged along the bottom part of the finger from the finger tip to the palm. However the principles of the invention are not limited to the bottom of the finger or to the finger or to any other part of the hand, including the palm, as may be stress when placing the bowling ball into play.  
         [0005]     The means, disclosed in a preferred embodiment as a clamp, may be disposed in a glove or disposed in separate respective clamps at selected locations on the bowler&#39;s finger or fingers, as the bowler may prefer. The clamp, as shown according to the disclosed inventive principles, and according to a preferred embodiment, uses a padded enclosure, shown for a preferred embodiment, as a tube sized to fit over the finger at a joint or between the joints. The material used in the clamp may be any commercially available material known or which becomes known, to reduce or prevent pressure points along the finger and under the clamp. However, as would be apparent to those skilled in the art, the clamp may be a sheet made to be wrapped around the finger and held in place in a fixed position.  
         [0006]     The function of the clamp, as shown according to the disclosed inventive principles, is to apply pressure and a force to the muscles and tendons of the releasing fingers. The force produced on the muscles and tendons, reduces or prevents the counter force of the bowling ball in the hyper extended direction relative to the finger, from stretching the muscles or tendons, or from causing microscopic separation of the tendons from the bones, preserving the bowler&#39;s control and the bowlers ability to repeatedly use the releasing fingers to accurately control the ball. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0007]      FIG. 1 . shows the invention according to a preferred embodiment, in its clamped position, as used on the finger of a bowler, which would be inserted into the finger hole of a bowling ball and used for release of the ball.  
         [0008]      FIG. 2 . shows, in a perspective view, the invention according to a preferred embodiment, off the bowler&#39;s finger.  
         [0009]      FIG. 3 . shows the invention, as shown according to the disclosed inventive principles, in  FIG. 2 , in a side view.  
         [0010]      FIG. 4 . shows the invention, as shown according to the disclosed inventive principles, in its clamped position as it would be used on a bowler&#39;s finger. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0011]     The clamp is shown in a position on a bowler&#39;s finger, generally by numeral  11 , as used according to the disclosed inventive principles, in a preferred embodiment, on a bowler&#39;s middle finger  13  and between the first and second joints,  17 ,  15 , proximate the finger tip  19 . The finger tip  19  is shown placed for insertion into the finger hole  21  of bowling ball  23 . The invention, shown as clamp  25  includes a tube section  27 , sides or edges  14  and  16 , which surrounds the middle finger  13  at the location as may be placed by the bowler. As would be apparent to those skilled in the art, the clamp  25  may include a wrapping sheet  29 , which is wrapped around the middle finger  13 , finger and held in place over the tube section  27 , and as further shown and described with reference to  FIG. 2 . Tube section  27  is shown with an inner surface  30  and an outer surface  28 . The clamp  25  includes a wrapping section  29  which is shown in a preferred embodiment, passed under the fixture  31  used to change the direction of the holding part  33  of the wrapping section  29 , where it is folded back on the wrapping section  29 . The holding part  33  includes on its hidden side, a fastener,  37   b  for example, as used in the preferred embodiment, VELRO, which connects with a matching VELCRO surface  37   a  on the wrapping section  29  and which is hidden in this  FIG. 1  and shown in  FIG. 2 . As would be known and understood by those skilled in the art, the invention, the inventive principles are not limited to the use of a VELCRO fastener but any suitable fastening means, now known or as may be known in the future, may be used.  
         [0012]      37   a ,  37   b,    
         [0013]     In operation, the finger  13  is placed in the clamp tube section  27  or if the clamp is in a sheet form, a disclosed with reference to  FIG. 3 , the clamp tube in sheet form  27 , is wrapped around the finger  13  to form a tube in the form as shown by numeral  27 . The wrapping section  29  is then pulled through bracket  31  and wrapped around tube section  27  applying pressure and in a preferred embodiment, a force to the underside of the finger  13  as shown by arrow  35 . However, as would be known and understood by those skilled in the art, the clamp  25 , may be positioned on the finger to apply a force to another location on the finger  13  or apply a force axially along the finger at any location from the finger tip  19  to the end of the finger  13 .  
         [0014]     The wrapping section  29  as shown in a preferred embodiment, is passed under the fixture  31  and between the fixture  31  and the part of the tube section  27  shown by numeral  41 , to change its direction so it forms a new section identified herein as holding part  33 , which folds backwards on wrapping section  29 . The holding part  33  and the wrapping section  29  each include cooperative fastening sections for fastening holding part  33  to wrapping section  29  and holding the clamp  25  amd the force it exerts on tube section  27 , in place relative to in its intended position on or against the finger  13 . However, as would be known and understood by those skilled in the art, the clamp  25  may be used without the fixture  31 , and the wrapping section  29  may be fastened on the opposite side of the tube section  29 , which is not shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0015]      FIG. 2 , shows the clamp  25  in an open perspective view, off the finger  13  and as it would appear to a bowler, in the process of applying to the finger  13 . The wrapping section  29  is shown attached to the tube part  27  at the location on the tube section  27  shown by numeral  32 . As known to those skilled in the art, wrapping section  29  may be attached by any suitable means now or hereafter known. In a preferred embodiment, the wrapping section  29  is stitched to the tube part  27 . Fastening surfaces  37   a  and  37   b  are shown with surface  37   b  shown in phantom in a preferred embodiment where the wrapping section  29  is passed though fixture  31  to form holding part  33  (not shown in this  FIG. 2 ), which folds back wrapping section  29  on itself forming holding section  33 , where the fastening surfaces  37   a  and  37   b  are thereupon disposed opposite for an operative union fastening the holding part to the wrapping section and securing the clamp  25  in place on the finger  13  with the intended force and pressure applied to the finger  13  at a desired location applied by the wrapping section  29 . The fastening surfaces in a preferred embodiment are matching VELCRO surfaces but may be any other suitable fastener as now or hereafter known,  
         [0016]     In  FIG. 3 , is shown the clamp  25  as shown in  FIG. 2 , and shown in a side view.  
         [0017]     The area of stitching  41  is shown in a preferred embodiment for attaching the wrapping section  29  to the tube section  27 . An enhanced section  39  is shown placed in the tube section  27  to provide more padding at an intended area on the finger  13  where the most force and stress on the finger ligaments, muscles, and tendons, may be expected. As would be known to those skilled in the art, the tube section may be configured with or without an enhanced section  39  or with an enhanced section at any suitable location in the claim  25 .  
         [0018]     As shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 3 , the clamp  25  may be formed in a sheet for example by cutting the tube section  27  at line  43 - 43   a . As would be known to one skilled in the art, material may be added as shown by material piece  45  shown in phantom to add reinforcing.  
         [0019]      FIG. 4 , shows the clamp  25  in a preferred embodiment according to the disclosed principles of the invention, in its closed position with the holding part  33  folded back on wrapping section  29  and with the fastening sections  37   a  and  37   b , in opposed and engaged position.