Games using tangible projectile – Bowling – Practice or assist device
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-17
2001-05-08
Gerrity, Stephen F. (Department: 3711)
Games using tangible projectile
Bowling
Practice or assist device
C473S054000, C473S058000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06227981
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to ball ramp assemblies and, more particularly, to bowling ramp assemblies designed for use by bowlers having limited use of their arms or hands.
2. Description of the Related Art
A number of inventions exist which are aimed at helping the disabled to bowl. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,358,447 to Erickson; 4,097,045 to Bechtel; 4,368,898 to Lay; and 4,441,710 to Lay all show bowling ramps which can be placed on the front of a wheelchair or on a support structure which a person stands behind. These ramps require the person to have some sort of mobility in the arms and hands in order to place the bowling ball on the ramp, hold the ball while the ramp is positioned in the desired direction for bowling, and then release the ball in order that the ball will roll down the ramp towards the pins.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,358,446 to Bergman shows a bowling ramp in which the top of the ramp is horizontal. In this design, a person does not need to hold the ball to prevent it from inadvertently falling down the ramp, but does need to provide a pushing force in order to direct or initiate movement of the ball down the ramp. All of these known devices could not be used by a person that does not have adequate control of their arms or hands to hold the ball and release it down the ramp, or to push the ball down the ramp.
Further, the bowling ramp assemblies of the relevant art fail to provide a ramp positioning assembly that adequately takes into account the infirmities of the handicapped bowler. For example, Bergman discloses a bowling ramp having a clamp assembly located at the bottom back end of the ramp that allows the bowler to reposition the ramp to target specific bowling pins without shifting the entire ramp. Such an arrangement is impracticable for those disabled bowlers that lack the strength and dexterity to release the clamp assembly, reposition the ramp, and fix the clamp assembly.
Even assuming a handicapped bowler is capable of repositioning the ramp of Bergman, the location of the clamp assembly at the bottom back end of the ramp makes it difficult for such a bowler to access it. This location is particularly cumbersome for bowlers restricted to a wheelchair.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the invention is to provide a ball ramp assembly that enables even the most severely handicapped bowler to guide and accelerate a bowling ball toward the bowling pins. It should be understood that the invention could still be practiced without performing this preferred object.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
To achieve the objects and in accordance with the purposes of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, the invention comprises a ramp assembly for guiding and accelerating a ball. The ramp assembly includes a ramp having a proximal end, a distal end, and a ball guide, the ball guide defining a ball path along the ramp, a base coupled to the proximal end of the ramp for supporting the ramp, a ball release coupled to the ramp for selectively controlling travel of the ball along the ramp, and a positioning assembly coupled to the ramp for adjusting the orientation of the ramp.
In accordance with another aspect, the present invention also comprises a ramp assembly for guiding and accelerating a ball. This ramp assembly includes a ramp having a proximal end, a distal end, and a ball guide, the ball guide defining a ball path down the ramp, a base located at the proximal end of the ramp for supporting the ramp, a ball release coupled to the ramp, the ball release including a stopping member movable between a blocking position restricting the ball from traveling along the ball guide, and a releasing position allowing the ball unrestricted travel along the ball guide, and a switch coupled to the ball release for selectively controlling the position of the stopping member.
In accordance with yet another aspect, the present invention again comprises a ramp assembly for guiding and accelerating a ball. The ramp assembly includes a ramp having a proximal end, a distal end, and a ball guide, the ball guide defining a ball path along the ramp, a base located at the proximal end of the ramp for supporting the ramp, and a motor driven positioning assembly coupled to the ramp for adjusting the orientation of the ramp.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate several embodiments of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3083967 (1963-04-01), Steel
patent: 3159401 (1964-12-01), Ikenberry
patent: 3215436 (1965-11-01), Carter
patent: 3481601 (1969-12-01), Santora
patent: 3539183 (1970-11-01), Lieb
patent: 3578322 (1971-05-01), Kerr
patent: 4097045 (1978-06-01), Bechtel
patent: 4368898 (1983-01-01), Lay
patent: 4441710 (1984-04-01), Lay
patent: 4470598 (1984-09-01), Steele et al.
patent: 5082265 (1992-01-01), Bergman
patent: 5358446 (1994-10-01), Bergman
patent: 5358447 (1994-10-01), Erickson
patent: 5713798 (1998-02-01), Brodie, Jr.
patent: 6042482 (1998-10-01), Wilds
Flaghouse Inc. Products Brochure, p. 61 (item numbers 9972T, 8341T, and 9977T).
Detres Lorenzo
Jordan Raul
Lizama Troncoso Mauricio Anibal
Rivera Joel
Serrano David
Aryanpour Mitra
Gerrity Stephen F.
Patent Law Office of Heath W. Hoglund
University of Puerto Rico
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