Bowling ball angulator and methods of use
A device for locating bowling ball gripping apertures with respect to a bowling ball weight block angle inherent to that particular bowling ball and the track of a particular bowler is disclosed herein. One embodiment of the device includes a curved base portion adapted to substantially rest on a curved surface of a bowling ball. Degree indicators are located on the perimeter of the base portion, and a hole is located in the center of the base portion. A curved angle indicator arm is connected with and extends from the curved base portion. The angle indicator arm also includes length measurement indicators. The present invention further provides methods for laying out the placement of gripping holes on an undrilled bowling ball relative to a desired weight block angle and pin to positive access point distance for a particular bowler's track.
This application is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/873,111 filed on May 31, 2001, which is hereby incorporated by reference as if fully disclosed herein.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates to bowling accessories, and more specifically, to devices used for laying out bowling balls.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONIn the sport of bowling, aside from the technique of the bowler, one of the key factors that determines how a ball rolls down the lane is the location of a bowler's grip on the bowling ball relative to the bowling ball's weight block angulation with respect to the bowler's track. Therefore, the location of the bowler's track in relation to the location of a weight block internal to the bowling ball significantly impacts the rolling dynamics of the bowling ball.
In the known art, bowling balls are typically laid out by skilled pro-shop employees using artful methods and techniques. Laying out a bowling ball means the positioning of the finger holes with respect to the physical parameters of the ball, such as the block, pins, center of gravity, among other features. Multiple tools including straight edges, protractors, and right angles are used to lay out a ball. In addition, there is currently no known device for precisely angulating the two-piece style weight block in the modern bowling ball relative to the bowler's track. For example, a 45 degree angle block to bowler's track will have different rolling dynamics than a 135 degree angle block to the same bowler's track provided that the bowling balls are identical in all other ways (i.e., surface composition and weight block shape).
The present invention device provides a simpler and more accurate way to layout currently accepted layout designs. One layout currently used on bowling balls is the 4″×4″ layout. In the 4″×4″ layout, the positive axis point is located four inches from both the pin and the center of gravity. The preferred way by pro shops to provide a ball with a 4″×4″ layout is to use a protractor to draw 4″ radius arcs around both the pin and the center of gravity. The positive axis point is then located on any points where the two arcs intersect. The present invention eliminates the need for a protractor thereby both simplifying and increasing the accuracy for current layout designs and the methods used to create those designs.
Bowling ball thumb holes may be oval in shape and placed on the bowling ball at a skewed angle in relation to the grip center-line. Currently, there is no known device or method for precisely duplicating the thumb hole angle of a first bowling ball thumb hole to the thumb hole angle of a second bowling ball thumb hole other than a special drill press.
There is a need for a device and method for both increasing the precision and simplifying the process of laying out the gripping holes on a bowling ball for a desired weight block angulation to the particular bowler's track. There is a need for a device that allows for the precise duplication of a first bowling ball's rolling dynamics to a second bowling ball (i.e., duplicating a 45° weight block angle in the second bowling ball). There is a need for a device that allows one to quickly find a bowler's PAP. There is a need for a device that allows one to find the weight block angle of a particular bowling ball relative to the bowler's track. There is a need for a device that can measure the thumb hole angle of a drilled bowling ball. There is a need for a device that allows for the duplication of a first bowling ball's thumb hole angle to a second bowling ball without using a special drill press.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention bowling ball angulator device both simplifies and increases the precision of the process for laying out the gripping holes on a bowling ball for a specific bowling ball rolling dynamics ball reaction. The present invention bowling ball angulator device and the methods of using the device disclosed herein can be used diagnostically to easily determine a bowler's positive axis point (PAP) and to allow one to precisely determine the layout of a first drilled bowling ball grip with respect to the bowling ball's weight block location relative to the bowler's track.
This information, in turn, can be used to duplicate the rolling dynamics of the first bowling ball to a second bowling ball by laying out the grip of the second ball the same as the grip of the first ball with respect to the weight block's internal to both balls relative to the same bowler's track.
The present invention bowling ball angulator device and methods of using the device disclosed herein can also be used for precisely measuring the thumb hole angle of a first bowling ball thumb hole and using the information to duplicate the first thumb hole angle on a second ball's thumb hole. The present invention device can be used to determine the proper thumb hole angulation of a particular bowling ball.
One embodiment of the present invention device includes a curved base portion that is adapted to at least partially rest on the curved surface of the bowling ball. The perimeter of the base portion includes degree indicators, and the center of the base portion includes a hole. At least four curved angle indicator arms that are adapted to at least partially rest on the curved surface of the bowling ball extends from the curved base portion. The angle indicator arms include length measurement indicators. At least two of the angle indicator arms are adapted to rotate about the center of the curved base portion.
Other embodiments of the present invention angulator device include an embodiment having a substantially open base portion, an embodiment having only three angle indicator arms, and an embodiment including a substantially smaller base portion.
Further embodiments of the present invention include various methods for both diagnostically measuring the location of the bowling ball gripping holes with respect to the bowling ball weight block relative to the bowler's track and laying out the placement of the bowling ball gripping holes on a new undrilled bowling ball.
The invention is embodied in a device for laying out a bowling ball, the device including a base portion having a center adapted to substantially rest on a curved surface of a bowling ball, the perimeter of the base portion including degree indicators; at least four arms adapted to substantially rest on the curved surface of a bowling ball, the arms including length measurement indicators, the angle indicator arms connected with and extending from the base portion; wherein at least two of the angle indicator arms are adapted to rotate about the center of the curved base portion.
Additionally, the invention is also embodied in a device for laying out a bowling ball, the device including a base portion having a center adapted to substantially rest on a curved outer surface of a bowling ball; at least one arm adapted to extend along the curved surface of the bowling ball, the arm connected with and extending from the base portion; and wherein the other arm is adapted to rotate about the center of the base portion.
In one embodiment of the present invention, a device for laying out a bowling ball includes a semi-spherical base portion having a center adapted to substantially rest on a curved surface of the bowling ball. A perimeter of the base portion includes degree indicators. A curved arm is connected with and extends from the base portion and is adapted to substantially rest on the curved surface of the bowling ball. The curved arm also includes length measurement indicators. The center contacts the curved surface of the bowling ball and the curved arm extends along the curved surface of the bowling ball when laying out the bowling ball.
In another embodiment, a device for laying out a bowling ball includes a semi-spherical base portion adapted to substantially rest on a curved surface of the bowling ball. The base portion is defined by a solid perimeter portion including degree indicators, a substantially open middle portion, and a center portion including a center aperture. The center portion is joined with the perimeter portion. A curved arm is connected with and extends from the center portion of the semi-spherical base portion and is adapted to substantially rest on the curved surface of the bowling ball. The arm also includes length measurement indicators. The semi-spherical base portion contacts a curved surface of the bowling ball and the curved arm extends along the curved surface of the bowling ball when laying out the bowling ball.
In yet another embodiment, a device for laying out a bowling ball includes a semi-spherical base portion adapted to substantially rest on a curved surface of the bowling ball. The perimeter of the base portion includes degree indicators and at least one length measurement line. The center of the base portion includes an aperture. An arm is connected with and extends from the semi-spherical base portion and is adapted to substantially rest on the curved surface of the bowling ball. The arm also includes length measurement indicators. The semi-spherical base portion contacts a curved surface of a bowling ball and the arm extends along the curved surface of the bowling ball when laying out the bowling ball.
The present invention also provides a method for placing a positive axis point of an undrilled bowling ball including the following steps: (a) providing an undrilled bowling ball having an exterior surface with a pin and a center of gravity marked thereon; (b) providing a block angle and a desired pin distance from the pin to the positive axis point; (c) aligning on the exterior surface from the pin to the center of gravity; (d) creating a first mark on the exterior surface offset from the pin and the center of gravity by a number of degrees in the block angle; (e) creating a line on the exterior surface extending through the pin and the first mark; (f) measuring from the pin to a point along the line in step (e) that is a distance equal to the desired pin distance; and (g) marking a location of the point in step (f) on the exterior surface of the bowling ball.
The present invention further provides a method of placing a horizontal and vertical coordinate intersection point of a positive axis point on an undrilled bowling ball, the method including the following steps: (a) providing an undrilled bowling ball having an exterior surface with a positive axis point marked thereon; (b) providing a vertical distance from the positive axis point and a desired grip center; (c) locating a point at a distance equal to the vertical distance from the positive axis point; (d) aligning the point in step (c) with the desired grip center; and (e) marking the point in step (d) as the horizontal and vertical coordinate intersection point.
The inventive device can be used to determine many different physical characteristics of a bowling ball, as well as assist in the layout of the bowling ball in a quick, accurate and repeatable manner.
The features, utilities, and advantages of various embodiments of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of embodiments of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings and defined in the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The sport of bowling and particularly the art and science of manufacturing and drilling bowling balls includes its own vocabulary. The following provides definitions of common bowling terms used herein (see
The “centerline” (CL) 200 (see
The “center of gravity” (CG) 208 of a bowling ball is a mark on the surface of the ball that indicates the position of the center of mass of the whole ball relative to the geometric center of the ball.
The “grip” or “gripping holes” of a bowling ball consists of either the finger holes and thumb hole drilled on the bowling ball or in some cases only the finger holes (and no thumb hole).
The “grip center” (GC) 204 is located at the intersection of the midline and the centerline of the grip. For a grip that includes both finger holes and a thumb hole, GC 204 lies at the midpoint of a line that runs along CL 200 from the center of the thumb hole to the perpendicular line (to CL 200) that runs through the center of both finger holes. If no thumb hole is included in the grip, GC 204 lies at the midpoint of the perpendicular line (to CL 200) that runs through the center of both finger holes.
The “mass bias” (MB) 214 of a bowling ball is a mark on the surface of the ball that indicates the position of the center of mass of the positive half of the core on a pin-out ball. The pin distance to MB 214 is routinely 6.75 inches or half-way around the ball. Balls only have a MB 214 if the weight block is asymmetrical or heavier on one-half of the weight block than the other half.
The “midline” (ML) 202 is a horizontal line that passes midway between the inside edge of the thumb hole and the inside edge of the finger holes and is perpendicular to the centerline of the grip.
The “pin” 212 of a bowling ball is a mark on the surface of the ball that indicates the position of the top of the core, or the position of the weight block 210, inside the ball. A ball is called a “pin in” ball if the pin is 1-2 inches away from CG 208 and a “pin out” ball if the pin is greater than 2 inches from CG 208. It has been found that the greater the pin 212 distance from PAP 206, the further down the lane the ball will travel before gripping the lane.
A bowler's “positive axis point” (PAP) 206 on a bowling ball refers to the positive end of the bowler's axis of rotation during the ball's first revolution after it hits the lane. The location of PAP 206 is expressed in terms of horizontal and vertical coordinates with respect to the grip center and the midline.
The ball “track” 108 (see
The “weight block” 210 of a bowling ball refers to the inner core in two-piece bowling balls. The average non-bowler or occasional recreation bowler does not realize that most bowling balls are not fabricated to be a homogenous body of material. A typical bowling ball includes a weight block 210 located under the surface of the ball and toward the center of the ball. It is to be appreciated that any of the various embodiments of the present invention or related inventions can be used with bowling balls including symmetrical or asymmetrical weight blocks having various densities, shapes, and/or sizes, as well as weight blocks fabricated from a single piece or a plurality of pieces.
The CG 208, MB 214, and pin 212 locations are very important in terms of location relative to the bowler's track and the rolling dynamics of the bowling ball.
In one embodiment, two of the extending arms 6, 8 remain in a fixed position with respect to the center of the base portion 4 and can be integral to the base portion. In
The adjustable angle indicator arms 10, 12 are illustrated at twelve and six o'clock, respectively, in
As illustrated in
As is illustrated in
As mentioned earlier, and more clearly illustrated in
In the embodiment illustrated in
The fixed indicator arm base portion 4 generally includes a central cap portion 30 with two indicator arms 6, 8 extending therefrom and a center 14 hole in the cap portion 30. The indicator arms are in fixed orientation relative to the base portion. The arms can extend from the perimeter of the base portion, or can lay along the top of the base portion and extend from the perimeter. What's important is that the edge 24 and the distance markings are visible where the arms overlap or extend along the base portion. A rivet-like collar 20 is used to attach the adjustable indicator arm top portion 18 with the fixed arm base portion 4. The collar 20 includes a central bore 32 and top 34 and bottom 36 head portions (
The embodiment 60 illustrated in
The central portion defines an aperture, as is similar with the central portions defined above, for a rotational connection with the moveable arm extension 62. This moveable arm extension 62, or indicator arm, is rotationally attached to the central portion by a collar position through the aperture, as is similar with that described above in order to allow the arm 62 to rotate relative to the base portion and to the other arm extensions. The adjustable arm also has a scale marked in inches along the alignment edge. One of the edges on the adjustable arm forms an alignment edge since it is in alignment with the degree markings around the perimeter of the base portion 61. The base portion is preferably clear and able to be seen through, and an annular space allows the user to contact the bowling ball surface if desired. The arrows associated with arm 62 in
Generally, the more arms included on the device and the more accurate the measurements performed with the device will be. An example of this is the use of the device to locate a bowler's PAP, which is described in greater detail below. A device with more arms will allow the user to more accurately locate the bowler's PAP. As a result, any other measurements that rely on locating the PAP will also be impacted. In a preferred embodiment, the device will include four arms total. However, a device could be developed that has less than four indicator arms or greater than four indicator arms.
The device 70 illustrated in
In all of the embodiments described and illustrated above, plastic is the preferred material of construction. In a preferred embodiment, the material used is transparent or semi-transparent. Transparent or semi-transparent materials allow the user to more easily and accurately manipulate the device on the surface of the bowling ball because the pertinent marks on the surface of the bowling ball are apparent. While transparent or semi-transparent materials are preferred, the device could also be manufactured using non-transparent materials such as plastic or steel.
As mentioned above, the bowling ball angulator device can be used for diagnostic purposes on drilled bowling balls, for laying out the gripping hole locations on undrilled bowling balls, or for transferring the layout from one ball to another.
The thumb angle 86 of a bowling ball 16 thumb hole 88 is the angle that the thumb hole 88 is rotated from the centerline 90 of the bowling ball grip. The cross-sectional shape of a thumb 92 is substantially oval. As a result, the shape of the thumb hole 88 or thumb hole insert is generally oval. When holding a bowling ball 16, the center-line 94 of the oval-shaped thumb hole 88 is rotated with respect to the centerline 90 of the bowling ball 16 grip. For users that particularly prefer to have an oval-shaped thumb hole 88, the thumb hole rotation angle 86 is important.
As illustrated in
To measure the thumb hole angle 86 of the bowling ball 16, the user next centers the center hole 14 of the angulator device 2 over the center 102 of the thumb hole 88. The user lines-up the adjustable indicator arms 10, 12 so they reside on top of the fixed indicator arms 6, 8 as illustrated in
For a right-handed bowler, the user would begin with the center-line edge 24 of both sets of indicator arms 6, 8, 10, 12 aligned with the centerline 90 of the bowling ball 16 grip. Next, the user would rotate the adjustable indicator arms 10, 12 until the trailing edge 24 (rotating in a clock-wise direction) came into alignment with the center-line 94 of the grip thumb hole 88. Finally, the user would read the angle 86 indicated by the leading edge 24 on the perimeter 27 of the cap portion 30 of the angulator device 2 to determine the thumb hole angle 86 for a right-handed bowler.
A preferred method for measuring the thumb hole angle of a bowling ball is described herein. Obviously, there are other ways to measure the angle between lines 90 and 94 (e.g., first lining the fixed indicator arms 10, 12 with the center-line 94 of the thumb hole and then measuring the angle to the centerline 90 of the ball, etc.). The present invention contemplates these and other methods of measuring the angle between lines 90 and 94 using the inventive device. Traditionally, the angle measured is the acute angle. However, the angle measured could also be relayed using the angle greater than 90 degrees (360 degrees minus the acute angle).
The angulator device 2 can also be used to lay out the thumb hole angle 86 on an undrilled bowling ball 17.
As discussed above, the rolling dynamics of a bowling ball are significantly affected by the placement of the bowler's grip on the bowling ball with respect to the location of the weight block inside the bowling ball relative to a respective bowler's track. In the prior art, no effective way to properly measure the location of a bowler's grip on the bowling ball with respect to the location of the weight block within the bowling ball relative to a respective bowler's track is believed to have been disclosed.
To determine the positive axis point 104 of a drilled bowling ball 16, one must first mark the track 108 on the outer surface of the bowling ball 16. To mark the track 108, the user releases the bowling ball 16 down the lane (or in some other manner, such as on a rug or other surface) in a normal releasing manner to identify the location of the respective bowler's track. The oil or conditioner from the lane, or dust from a carpet, is often readily visible on the surface of the bowling ball 16 in the location of the track 108 (and actually marks the track) after rolling the ball down the lane or on a carpet. By retrieving the bowling ball 16 soon after it has been released down the lane, one can use a crayon-type or oil based pencil or marker to trace the track 108 on the surface of the bowling ball 16. After marking the track 108 on the bowling ball 16, the user next places the bowling ball 16 on a flat surface 116 such that the negative portion 112 of the bowling ball 16 is resting on the surface 116 and the plane 110 defined by the bowling ball track 108 is parallel to the flat surface 116 as illustrated in
The user next places the angulator device 2 on top 118 of the positive side 114 of the bowling ball 16 with the four angle indicator arms 6, 8, 10, 12 spaced 90° apart and dividing the bowling ball into four quadrants (as viewed from the top). The user aligns the device 2 such that the four angle indicator arm ends 120, 122, 124, and fourth arm (only three arms visible in
An important diagnostic measurement of a bowling ball 16 is distance from the bowling ball's pin 128 (
Referring to
Next, the user draws a line 138 extending from the positive axis point 104 perpendicular to and through the midline 136 (PAP-I-point line 138). The user uses the angulator device 2 to properly layout the line 138 extending at a right angle from the positive axis point 104. By aligning one set of the indicator arms (fixed or adjustable) with the midline 136 and off-setting the other set of indicator arms 90° away, the user can mark a line 138 on the ball that extends through the positive axis point and is perpendicular to the midline 136. Any one of the indicator arms can be used to extend the line 138 at a right angle through the positive axis point 104 and through the midline 136. The intersection 140 of the PAP-I-point line 138 and the midline 136 is then marked by the user. This intersection 140 is known as the PAP coordinates intersection point or the I-point 140. To measure the PAP vertical coordinate 131, any one of the indicator arms 6, 8, 10, 12 is used to measure the distance from the PAP 104 to the I-point 140 along line 138. The measured distance is the PAP vertical coordinate 131.
The present invention also includes a method for measuring the PAP horizontal coordinate 132. As illustrated in
To measure the weight block angle 142 of a drilled bowling ball 16, the user first draws lines from the pin 128 to the center of gravity 148 (pin-CG line 144), or mass bias if one is present, and from the pin to the PAP (pin-PAP line 146) using any one of the angulator indicator arms 6, 8, 10, 12 as a straight edge. Next, the user places the center hole 14 of the angulator device 2 over the pin 128. The user aligns the length indicator edge 24 of one of the fixed indicator arms 6, 8 with either the pin-CG line 144 (or pin-mass bias line if a mass bias is present) or the pin-PAP line 146. The user then rotates the adjustable indicator arms 10, 12 to the other line (either the pin-CG line 144 or the pin-PAP line 146, whichever the fixed indicator arms 10, 12 are not aligned with). The user aligns the length indicator edge 24 of the adjustable indicator arms 10, 12 with the line selected. The user then measures the block angle 142 between the pin-CG line 144 and pin-PAP line 146 by reading the angle off of the angle indicators 29 on the perimeter 27 of the cap portion 30 of the angulator device 2.
After determining the PAP 104, the pin distance 126 from the PAP 104, the PAP vertical coordinate 131, the PAP horizontal coordinate 132, the I-point 140, and the block angle 142 all of which are located and/or measured as described herein, a user can lay out an undrilled ball 17 with substantially similar rolling dynamics to that of a previously measured drilled bowling ball 16 having a desired weight block angle 142 relative to the bowler's track using the angulator device 2.
Next, the user places the length indicator edge 24 of one of the indicator arms 10 next to the desired positive axis point 104 location at a distance equal to the PAP vertical coordinate 131 from the center hole 14 of the angulator device 2. If the given PAP vertical coordinate 131 is a positive number, the PAP 104 will reside above the center hole 14 of the angulator device 2. If the PAP vertical coordinate 131 is a negative number (as illustrated in
The angulator indicator arm 10 that is 90° from the indicator arm 6 along the midline 136 can also be used to draw a line perpendicular to the midline 136 (PAP-I-point line 138). Again, one of the device indicator arms can be used to extend the PAP-I-point line 138 through the PAP 104 and through the midline 136. The user should mark the intersection of the PAP-I-point line 138 with the midline 136. This mark represents the PAP coordinate intersection point or the I-point 140. Note in
As illustrated in
As is illustrated in
In addition to having degree indicators 308, the base portion 300 includes length measurement lines 312 having length measurement indicators 314 extending from the center 304 to the outer perimeter 310 of the base portion 300. The base portion 300 shown in
As shown in
It is to be appreciated that components of the present invention having a single indicator arm are not limited to the size and/or shapes of the embodiments described above with reference to
As shown in
As shown in
Referring now to
The layout device of the present invention has been described herein, and provides for convenient, accurate and repeatable layout of a bowling ball, as well as assisting in the diagnostics of the important features and characteristics of a bowling ball. Although various representative embodiments of this invention have been described above with a certain degree of particularity, those skilled in the art could make numerous alterations to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventive subject matter set forth in the specification and claims. All directional references (e.g., upper, lower, upward, downward, left, right, leftward, rightward, top, bottom, above, below, vertical, horizontal, clockwise, and counterclockwise) are only used for identification purposes to aid the reader's understanding of the embodiments of the present invention, and do not create limitations, particularly as to the position, orientation, or use of the invention unless specifically set forth in the claims. Joinder references (e.g., attached, coupled, connected, and the like) are to be construed broadly and may include intermediate members between a connection of elements and relative movement between elements. As such, joinder references do not necessarily infer that two elements are directly connected and in fixed relation to each other.
In some instances, components are described with reference to “ends” having a particular characteristic and/or being connected with another part. However, those skilled in the art will recognizes that the present invention is not limited to components which terminate immediately beyond their points of connection with other parts. Thus, the term “end” should be interpreted broadly, in a manner that includes areas adjacent, rearward, forward of, or otherwise near the terminus of a particular element, link, component, part, member or the like. In methodologies directly or indirectly set forth herein, various steps and operations are described in one possible order of operation, but those skilled in the art will recognize that steps and operations may be rearranged, replaced, or eliminated without necessarily departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. It is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not limiting. Changes in detail or structure may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
Claims
1. A device for laying out a bowling ball, said device comprising:
- a semi-spherical base portion having a center adapted to substantially rest on a curved surface of the bowling ball, a perimeter of said base portion including degree indicators; and
- a curved arm connected with and extending from said base portion and adapted to substantially rest on the curved surface of the bowling ball, said curved arm including length measurement indicators; and
- whereby said center contacts the curved surface of the bowling ball and said curved arm extends along the curved surface of the bowling ball when laying out the bowling ball.
2. The device in claim 1, wherein said curved arm is formed integrally with said base portion.
3. The device in claim 1, wherein said curved arm defines an arc of at least 90 degrees.
4. The device in claim 1, wherein said curved arm is constructed of a flexible material.
5. The device in claim 1, wherein an edge of said curved arm is aligned with the center of said base portion.
6. The device in claim 1, wherein said base portion has a partially spherical shape.
7. The device in claim 1, wherein said base portion includes at least one length measurement line.
8. The device of claim 7, wherein said at least one length measurement line is offset from said curved arm by 90 degrees.
9. A device for laying out a bowling ball, said device comprising:
- a semi-spherical base portion adapted to substantially rest on a curved surface of the bowling ball, said base portion defined by a solid perimeter portion including degree indicators, a substantially open middle portion, and a center portion, including a center aperture, joined with said perimeter portion;
- a curved arm connected with and extending from said center portion of said semi-spherical base portion and adapted to substantially rest on the curved surface of the bowling ball, said arm including length measurement indicators; and
- whereby said semi-spherical base portion contacts a curved surface of the bowling ball and said curved arm extends along the curved surface of the bowling ball when laying out the bowling ball.
10. The device in claim 9, wherein said curved arm is integral to said base portion.
11. The device in claim 9, wherein said curved arm defines an arc of at least 90 degrees.
12. The device in claim 9, wherein said curved arm is constructed of a flexible material.
13. The device in claim 9, wherein an edge of said curved arm is aligned with the center of said center aperture in said center portion.
14. The device in claim 9, wherein said base portion includes at least one length measurement line.
15. The device of claim 14, wherein said at least one length measurement line is offset from said curved arm by 90 degrees.
16. A device for laying out a bowling ball, said device comprising:
- a semi-spherical base portion adapted to substantially rest on a curved surface of the bowling ball, the perimeter of said base portion including degree indicators and at least one length measurement line, and the center of said base portion including an aperture;
- an arm connected with and extending from said semi-spherical base portion and adapted to substantially rest on the curved surface of the bowling ball, said arm including length measurement indicators; and
- whereby said semi-spherical base portion contacts a curved surface of a bowling ball and said arm extends along the curved surface of the bowling ball when laying out the bowling ball.
17. The device in claim 16, wherein said arm is integral with said base portion.
18. The device in claim 16, wherein said arm is not integral to said base portion.
19. The device in claim 16, wherein an edge of said arm is aligned with the center of said aperture in said base portion.
20. The device in claim 16, wherein at least one length measurement line is offset from said arm by 90 degrees.
21. A method for placing a positive axis point of an undrilled bowling ball, said method comprising the following steps:
- (a) providing an undrilled bowling ball having an exterior surface with a pin and a center of gravity marked thereon;
- (b) providing a block angle and a desired pin distance from the pin to the positive axis point;
- (c) aligning on said exterior surface from said pin to said center of gravity;
- (d) creating a first mark on said exterior surface offset from said pin and said center of gravity by a number of degrees in said block angle;
- (e) creating a line on said exterior surface extending through said pin and said first mark;
- (f) measuring from said pin to a point along said line in step (e) that is a distance equal to said desired pin distance; and
- (g) marking a location of said point in step (f) on said exterior surface of said bowling ball.
22. The method of claim 21, wherein said exterior surface includes a mass bias marked thereon and said mass bias is used in place of said center of gravity in steps (c) and (d).
23. A method of placing a horizontal and vertical coordinate intersection point of a positive axis point on an undrilled bowling ball, said method comprising the following steps:
- (a) providing an undrilled bowling ball having an exterior surface with a positive axis point marked thereon;
- (b) providing a vertical distance from said positive axis point and a desired grip center;
- (c) locating a point at a distance equal to said vertical distance from said positive axis point;
- (d) aligning said point in step (c) with said desired grip center; and
- (e) marking said point in step (d) as the horizontal and vertical coordinate intersection point.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 22, 2004
Publication Date: Feb 17, 2005
Inventor: David Albert (Littleton, CO)
Application Number: 10/947,845