Games using tangible projectile – Bowling – Ball
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-24
2001-07-10
Pierce, William M. (Department: 3711)
Games using tangible projectile
Bowling
Ball
C473S129000, C033S509000, C144S024090
Reexamination Certificate
active
06257988
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
In general, the present invention relates to devices and methods of fitting and drilling finger holes in a bowling ball. More particularly, the present invention relates to bowling ball fitting devices that enable the holes for the thumb to be drilled in numerous different orientations with respect to the holes for the middle and ring fingers.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A regulation bowling ball contains three finger holes. Typically, a bowler grasps the holes in the bowling ball with his/her middle finger, ring finger and thumb. However, every person has a uniquely shaped hand and fingers. Furthermore, every bowler has their own unique bowling style that is affected by the position of their fingers as they grasp and roll the bowling ball. It is for this reason that bowling balls are not manufactured with holes. Rather, bowling balls are manufactured as solid spheres. The finger holes are drilled into a bowling ball in a secondary procedure at the time of purchase of the bowling ball.
To drill a hole in a bowling ball, the purchaser of the bowling ball is first fitted. In the fitting procedure, a person's hand is placed within a fitting jig. The fitting jig contains adjustable finger holes so that a person can customize the position of the finger holes to their needs. Once a person is comfortable with the holes on the bowling ball, the settings measured from the fitting jig can be transferred to a drilling machine and the desired finger holes can be reproduced in an actual bowling ball.
In many prior art fitting jigs, the degree of adjustability is limited. Many traditional fitting jigs contain only adjustments for the middle finger and the ring finger. The position of the thumb hole is static. Such prior art devices are exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 5,601,385 to Towers, entitled, Apparatus For Fitting and Drilling Bowling Balls.
The static position of thumb holes in many prior art fitting jigs is insufficient for many bowlers. Certain bowlers require and/or desire finger hole configurations where the position of the thumb hole can also be varied. Accordingly, in the prior art, some fitting jigs have been developed where the position of the thumb hole can be altered. Such prior art fitting jigs are exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 4,067,110 to Amelio, entitled Thumb Finger Hole Positioning Device For Bowling Balls.
Although fitting jigs, such as is shown in the Amelio patent, are better than prior art static thumb hole fitting jigs, such fitting jigs still are not sufficient for many bowlers. In the Amelio patent, the thumb hole jig cannot be adjusted along the curved surface of the bowling ball. Rather, the thumb jig can only be adjusted along a linear path. Furthermore, the thumb hole jigs adjust about a pivot point that is deep within the bowling ball fitting jig. However, a thumb enters a bowling ball from the surface of the bowling ball, and pivots near the surface of the bowling ball. Do to the different points of pivotal rotation, the angles achievable by a person's thumb cannot be accurately matched by the thumb hole jig.
Prior art fitting jigs for bowling balls therefore are still not capable of accurately fitting a bowler's fingers with anatomically correct precision. Rather, prior art fitting jigs still require compromises in finger position which may cause discomfort and/or inaccuracy to the bowler.
A need therefore exists for an improved fitting jig for a bowling ball that can provide a wide variety of finger and thumb positional adjustments in an anatomically correct manner. This need is met by the present invention system and method as described and claimed below.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a system and method for producing a bowling ball, where the thumb hole and finger holes in the bowling ball are angled to accurately match the anatomical requirements of the bowler's hand. The system includes a measuring jig assembly for obtaining data on where to drill finger holes in a bowling ball. The measuring jig assembly has holes for the thumb, the middle finger and the ring finger. The position of the thumb hole can be moved in a unique manner so that the thumb hole need not be located below the middle finger hole and the ring finger hole. Furthermore, the angle at which each of the holes enters the measuring jig assembly is adjustable across a range of motion that mimics that achievable by the tips of the thumb, middle finger and ring finger. Accordingly, the holes can be adjusted to unique angles required by a particular bowler's hand anatomy. The data retrieved from the measuring jig assembly is then used to produce a bowling ball customized to a bowler's hand.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2314811 (1943-03-01), Akin
patent: 2393908 (1946-01-01), Hubbard
patent: 2539918 (1951-01-01), McLaren
patent: 2566511 (1951-08-01), Bassi
patent: 3081549 (1963-03-01), Neary
patent: 3081550 (1963-03-01), Jacksich et al.
patent: 3145479 (1964-08-01), Rassner
patent: 3273250 (1966-09-01), Egger
patent: 3383109 (1968-05-01), Jankiewicz
patent: 3835545 (1974-09-01), Taylor
patent: 3861681 (1975-01-01), Kelsey
patent: 4067110 (1978-01-01), Amelio
Cobb Bruce
Hoffmire Carl
LaMorte & Associates
Pierce William M.
LandOfFree
Device and method for fitting finger holes in a bowling ball... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Device and method for fitting finger holes in a bowling ball..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Device and method for fitting finger holes in a bowling ball... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2475822