Bowling teaching device

Abstract

A bowling teaching device and method having a frame having legs sized to fit in the gutters on each side of a bowling alley lane. The frame has a cross member spanning over the lane from the legs, the cross member being spaced from the lane surface by a specified distance. At least one strip is removably mounted on the cross member, the strip hanging down toward the lane surface for a distance sufficient to permit a bowling ball to contact the strip. The device is placed at a location in the bowling alley lane so the at least one strip provides a target for the bowler to aim at during practice bowling.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an improved device for teaching bowling skills and providing for practice bowling that assists the bowler in improving his or her game, no matter what skill level the bowler has at the time.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Bowling is a popular sport for both men and women. Bowlers participate in bowling leagues, on teams, and bowlers bowl socially. Some bowl alone, striving to improve their skill at placing the bowling ball on a specific spot with a predetermined rate of rotation in order to direct the bowling ball to what is known as the pocket, where the likelihood of all ten pins being knocked down is highest. Of course some bowlers simply enjoy sending the ball toward the pins and are not concerned with the results.

Those bowlers who seek to score well and be consistent have sought many ways to acquire the techniques of consistently placing the bowling ball on the alley at just the right place, with the right rotation and speed. Tools have been developed to assist bowlers in learning these techniques. Many prior art disclosures relate to “spot bowling,” which is the term for placing the bowling ball on a specific “spot” on the alley surface, usually out from the foul line just far enough to have the ball hit the spot as it is released. The location of the spot is determined by the bowler, taking into account the speed and rotation the individual bowler imparts to the ball.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,178,182 shows a rack that fits in the gutters and presents a panel that prevents the bowler from seeing the pins when releasing the ball at a spot of light on the alley. Because the bowler does not see the pins, the patent specifically intends the bowler not focus on the pins during the approach and release of the ball so that the bowler concentrates on the light spot. The light shines down from the frame to provide a light spot said to be about the size of a half dollar. One does one's best to hit the spot.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,082,000 discloses a rack over the alley with feeler elements 19 that activate a switch if contacted by the ball that sends a light or a sound indicating contact with the ball. The sound that is emitted indicating where the ball has landed is to be instructive, helping the bowler adjust his or her next release if not right on target.

Both of these patents require that the bowler hit something to signify that the ball was released at the right spot. The problem with this approach is that once the device is removed, the bowler has to try to remember the location of the spot that is no longer there. That is really no different than traditional spot bowling.

It would be an advance in the art if a device could be provided that would allow a bowler to practice placing the ball on the alley on a spot that actually exists during actual bowling. If the device indicated that the bowler didn't hit the spot, that would be enough to allow him or her to adjust his placement.

Other advantages will appear hereinafter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It has now been discovered that the above and other advantages of the present invention may be obtained in the following manner. A frame or rack fits in the gutters of a bowling alley with a cross member over the alley. Strips hang down at specific positions to give the bowler a specific gap through which the ball is rolled.

The strips are made from plastic or other flexible materials so that if the bowling ball strikes the strip, no harm is caused and the ball simply rolls down the alley as if the device was not in use. The gap between the strips is adjustable, A beginning bowler would place two strips, for example, apart by a distance greater than the diameter of the ball and try to roll the ball between the two strips. Or, a skilled bowler could place two strips with almost no gap other than the diameter of the ball, thus requiring much greater skill in releasing the ball.

The bowler is also able to see the pins down the alley as he or she makes the approach and releases the ball. Because the strips are located so that the alley spot is in the center of the gap, the bowler is bowling in the same manner as during an actual game. Alternatively, the user can place one or more strips in a location where the ball is to go, thus giving the bowler a target and a tangible indication of the accuracy of the release.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the invention, reference is hereby made to the drawings, wherein like numbers refer to like elements, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention showing the device in a first location on a bowling alley.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the present invention showing the device in a second location on a bowling alley.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As seen in FIG. 1, a conventional bowling alley lane, 10 generally, is shown with pins 11 at the far end which the bowler will attempt to strike and knock down with a bowling ball rolled from behind the foul line 13. The device of this invention is placed in the gutters 15 of the lane 10 and the legs 17 support a cross member 19 that extends over the lane. In these embodiments, legs 17 and cross member 19 are made from polyvinylchloride (PCV) pipe, though other materials can be used as well. PVC is readily available, reasonably priced, and simple to assembly into the device as shown.

Attached to cross member 19 are strips 21a-i. These strips are made from plastic, though other materials are also used. All that is needed is for the strips to be flexible enough to not change the path or rotation of the ball when the ball impacts on the strip, and to be strong enough not to break or wear out over time. Strips 21a-I can be attached to cross member 19 using a hook 27 hanging down from cross member 19 to engage hole 28 in the strip.

The device in FIG. 1 is placed near foul line 13 and in line with marks 23 that are on essentially all bowling alley lanes. Marks 23, called “spots” are used by some bowlers as a spot over which the ball is to roll so that its trajectory and rotation will bring it to the desired place on the pins, in the “pocket” where the ball pushes pins back and to the side, hopefully knocking all of them down for a strike. When one or more pins remain standing after the first roll of the bowling ball, the bowler can select a different gap during practice to get a feel for what the right spot on the floor would be.

The bowler can adjust his or her foot position on the approach so as to change the angle of trajectory of the ball to pick up the remaining pins. If the pins left standing are on the right side, the bowler would move his or her feet to the left on the approach and throw the ball through the same gap as they had on their strike try. If the pins left standing are on the left side, they would then move their feet to the right on the approach.

In FIG. 2, the device is placed further toward the pins and proximate a “V” shaped line 15 feet from the foul line, rather than 60 feet to the pins. The “V” shaped line contains 7 arrows 25 that can be used as targets. The arrows are on every 5^th board The second arrow from the right, on the 10^th board, is the most common target for a bowler. The use of the device with conventional marks on the lane gives the bowler an opportunity to learn how to hit the desired spot or mark, during practice, so that during an actual game, his or her scores be improved.

A bowling ball has a diameter of 8.5 inches. The strips shown here have a diameter of 2 inches and the space between the strips is also 2 inches. The gap between strips 23g and 23h is 10 inches, giving the bowler a 1.5 inch margin of error, so that if the bowler is accurate, the ball will pass between strips 23g and 23h without touching either, and thus will be on the desired path to strike down all the pins. If strip 23g, for example is also removed, the gap between strips 23f and 23h is 14 inches, giving a larger margin of error, of 5.5 inches, so the bowler has an easier target to aim at but slightly reducing the likelihood of having the ball actually on the spot needed for the best roll of the ball to strike the pins.

An alternative way of using the device of this invention is to have the bowler attempt to hit one or more strips, rather than passing between them. If the bowler intends to hit 1 strip, the margin of error is 10.5 inches, whereas hitting two strips has a 6.5 inch margin of error and hitting 3 strips gives the bowler only a margin of error of 2.5 inches.

In all cases, the device is used at the point in the lane where some permanent mark is present, such as the spots and arrows as described above.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it is not intended to limit the invention, except as defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. A bowling teaching device, comprising

a frame having legs sized to fit in the gutters on each side of a bowling alley lane and having a cross member spanning over the lane from the legs, the cross member being spaced from the lane surface by a specified distance;

at least one flexible strip attached to the cross member and hanging down toward the lane surface for a distance sufficient to permit a bowling ball to contact the strip.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein a plurality of strips are attached to the cross member and are spaced to hang down to provide a gap between each strip.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the plurality of strips are spaced such that removal of one strip provides a gap slightly larger than the diameter of a bowling ball.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the strips are 2 inches wide and the gap between the strips is 2 inches.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one strip is removably mounted on the cross member.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the at least one strip is removably mounted using a hook sized to engage a hole in the at least one strip.

7. A method for teaching bowling, comprising:

placing a frame having legs sized to fit in the gutters on each side of a bowling alley lane, the frame having a cross member spanning over the lane from the legs, the cross member being spaced from the lane surface by a specified distance;

attaching at least one strip on the cross member, the strip hanging down toward the lane surface for a distance sufficient to permit a bowling ball to contact the strip; and

placing the device at a location in the bowling alley lane so the at least one strip provides a target for the bowler to aim at during practice bowling.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein a plurality of strips are attached to the cross member and are spaced to hang down to provide a gap between each strip.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the plurality of strips are spaced such that removal of one strip provides a gap slightly larger than the diameter of a bowling ball.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the plurality of strips are about 2 inches wide and the gap between the strips is about 2 inches.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein the at least one strip is removably mounted on the cross member, wherein the at least one strip is removably mounted on the cross member.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one strip is removably mounted using a hook sized to engage a hole in the at least one strip.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the bowling alley has a plurality of spots spaced from the foul line and perpendicular to the length of the alley, and wherein the plurality of strips are centered over the permanent spots on the bowling alley, wherein the strips are located above the plurality of spots.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein at least one strip is removed to provide a gap through which the bowler aims to send the bowling ball, the at least one strip being selected to give the bowler a desired path for the ball to strike the pins.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein at least one strip is positioned to give the bowler a desired path for the ball to strike the pins if the ball hits the at least one strip.

16. The method of claim 8, wherein the bowling alley has a plurality of arrows at a point down the length of the alley, and wherein the plurality of strips are centered over the plurality of arrows on the bowling alley, wherein the strips are located proximate the plurality of arrows.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein at least one strip is removed to provide a gap through which the bowler aims to send the bowling ball, the at least one strip being selected to give the bowler a desired path for the ball to strike the pins.

18. The device of claim 14, wherein at least one strip is positioned to give the bowler a desired path for the ball to strike the pins if the ball hits the at least one strip.

19. A bowling teaching device, comprising

a frame having legs sized to fit in the gutters on each side of a bowling alley lane and having a cross member spanning over the lane from the legs, the cross member being spaced from the lane surface by a specified distance;

a plurality of flexible removably mounted strips attached to the cross member and hanging down toward the lane surface for a distance sufficient to permit a bowling ball to contact the strip, wherein the plurality of strips are spaced such that removal of one strip provides a gap slightly larger than the diameter of a bowling ball.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the device is positioned proximate a permanent spot or arrow on the bowling alley lane to provide a location for aiming the bowling ball.