US3301559A - Bowling form indicating device - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 31,- 1967 s. P. JOLLEY 3,301,559

BOWLING FORM INDIGATING DEVICE Filed Aug. 19, 1964 INVENTOR.

.STA/V ,0. JOLLE) United States Patent 3,301,559 BOWLING FORM INDICATING DEVICE 'Stanley P. Jolley, Chewelah, Wash. (E. 24523 River Road, Otis Orchard, Wash. 99027) Filed Aug. 19, 1964, Ser. No. 390,593 4 Claims. (Cl. 273-54) This invention relates to the art of bowling, and more specifically to a device which is mounted on the wrist of the bowlers hand and performs to indicate to the bowler the errors that he is making during the course of delivering a bowling ball down an alley.

The art of bowling is learned after extensive practice and one of the principal areas of difficulty to the learner is to be found in his inability to identify the errors which he is introducing to his throw during the course of delivery of the ball. Due to the speed of movement of the forearm and wrist, it would take a high speed camera to pick up the intricacies of the motions which are taking place. My invention is directed towards a device which can be worn on the wrist of the player which subsequent to a throw will indicate to the player the erring tendencies which are involved in his ball delivery.

It is therefore a primary object of this invention to provide a fork like tubular channel structure along which balls may run. This structure is secured on a pad which is fastened around the wrist of a player. The balls are caused to move down the'several channels depending on the movement of the wrist and so give indication to the player of ,any detrimental movements which he may be making during the course of his ball delivery.

A further object of this invention is to provide an indicating device for bowlers which is simple in construction, and which may be worn without causing obstruction to the player during the course of the ball delivery.

A full understanding of the details of the invention, together with further advantages, will become apparent by reference to the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with the attached drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the indicating device which is constructed according to my invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the forearm of a person during the course of delivery of a bowling ball.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the bowlers hand and wrist showing the device of my invention mounted in position on the wrist.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged view showing the orientation of the tubular channels in which small balls are free to move.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional side elevation taken along the lines 5-5 of FIG. 4..

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the numeral 6 represents a flat mounting plate having two opposed parallel side edges 7 which extend in onedirection with two straight connecting edges 8 which meet centrally of the side edges at an obtuse angle with each other. The other end of the side edges 7 extend with further connecting edges 9 which form a substantially acute intersection at 10. The strap 11 extends normally from one of the side edges 7 and has a tapering end 12, and is further provided with a series of spaced holes '13 as seen clearly in FIG. 1. A second strap 14 extends normally from the remaining side edge 7 and terminates with a buckle 15 having a tang 16 for selectively engaging in any of the spaced holes 13 formed in the strap 11.

Secured on the mounting plate 6 is a raised transparent tube 17 which extends centrally and parallel between the side edges 7 of the plate. The tube 8 has openings intermediate the length thereof which communicate with two further tubes 18 and 19 disposed at an acute angle with the tube 8 and in the same plane. The section of the tube 8 disposed in the vicinity of the intersection 10 provides a reservoir denoted by the letter R in FIG. 1, and this reservoir initially receives three small balls 20. The other end of the tube 8 is denoted as a pocket X, and the pockets formed at the extremities of the tubes 18 and 19 shall be denoted as pockets A and 0 respectively.

The device is secured about the players wrist 21 such that the reservoir R extends towards the palm 22 of the players hand with the tube 8 extending in central alignment with the forearm 23.

During the throw the player holds the ball 24 and whilst approaching his throw the three balls will'remain in the reservoir R. If he makes a straight throw and follow through the shots will drop straight back into the pocket X and thus indicate such an achievement to the bowler. If the bowler has a slight tendency to cross arm movement, two balls may fall into pocket X and the third into the pocket marked 0. A more extreme cross-arm movement would lead to all balls falling into the pocket 0. If the bowler moves his arm to the right, assuming he is right handed, the balls will fall into the pocket marked A. In a similar manner if the bowler fails to follow through after releasing the ball 24, the three small balls 20 will remain in the reservoir R. In this way the bowler can check his movement during the release of the ball. The device not only permits checking on the follow through of ball delivery but will also give indication with regard to his finishing position on lanes, such as dropping shoulders or rushing to the foul line.

The tubes are of such dimension that the small balls stay in single line, and it is recommended that the tubes be formed in transparent plastic material.

Having described the invention with considerable particularity, it should be understood that various modifications may be made to the precise detail thereof, without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A bowling form indicating device for mounting on the wrist of a bowler, and comprising a flat plate, a strap extending from the sides of the plate around said wrist, a transparent first tube secured on the plate extending normally with respect to the strap, further tubes each extending from an opposite side of the first tube and communicating therewith at an acute angle, and balls mounted to move freely within the first tube and the further tubes.

2. A bowling form indicating device according to claim 1, wherein there are two of said further tubes secured in the same plane as said first tube, said further tubes intersecting the first tube at one point intermediate the length of the first tube.

Patented Jan. 31; 1967 3. A bowling form indicating device according to claim 2, wherein there are three balls within the tubes, said balls being restrained to single file within any one of said tubes.

4. A bowling form indicating device for mounting on the wrist of a bowler, and comprising a plate, a strap securing the plate about said wrist, a first transparent tube secured to the plate and extending parallel and centrally of the wrist, two further tubes each intersecting the first tube intermediate the length thereof and extending at an acute :angle with respect thereto in a direction diverging towards the forearm of the bowler, balls restrained within the first tube and the further. tubes and individually free to move therein from one to another in any direction.

UNITED STATES PATENTS Savidge 273113 OReilly 273-115 Roberts.

Fletcher 273-122 Butan 27354 Morrison 27354 RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.

ANTON O. OECHSLE, Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A BOWLING FORM INDICATING DEVICE FOR MOUNTING ON THE WRIST OF A BOWLER, AND COMPRISING A FLAT PLATE, A STRAP EXTENDING FROM THE SIDES OF THE PLATE AROUND SAID WRIST, A TRANSPARENT FIRST TUBE SECURED ON THE PLATE EXTENDING NORMALLY WITH RESPECT TO THE STRAP, FURTHER TUBES EACH EXTENDING FROM AN OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE FIRST TUBE AND COMMUNICATING THEREWITH AT AN ACUTE ANGLE, AND BALLS MOUNTED TO MOVE FREELY WITHIN THE FIRST TUBE AND THE FURTHER TUBES.

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