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Custom bowling center ball system

Custom bowling center ball system description/claims

The present disclosure relates to bowling and, more particularly, to a system of customized bowling balls for public bowlers on a walk-in basis.

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.

Numerous bowling centers are prevalent throughout the United States and the world. Novice bowlers, as well as first time bowlers that have not been exposed to the sport, ordinarily do not have their own equipment. Thus, often times when these new bowlers go bowling at a bowling center, their enjoyment level is not always fulfilled. One of the reasons is that the bowling balls, at the bowling centers, commonly known as “house balls”, are balls that have already been predrilled with fixed fingers as well as thumb holes. These new bowlers must go from rack to rack in search of a bowling ball that somewhat fits their hand so that they are ready to bowl. A ball that does not fit a bowler's hand limits the ability and enjoyment of the already novice bowler. Also, the bowler may experience agitations, such as blisters or the like, from a bowling ball that does not fit their hand. Further, since there are different weights of bowling balls, while the bowler might find a ball that may fit their hand, the weight of the ball is either too heavy or too light. Thus, it would be desirable to have a ball system which would enable a custom fit to the walk-in bowler.

Accordingly, the present disclosure provides a novice bowler or a walk-in bowler with a system that enables the bowler to find a ball that fits his/her hand. The present disclosure provides a plurality of bowling balls having varying finger and thumb hole sets that may be rapidly sized to the particular bowler. The present disclosure provides a jig that measures the bowler's hand size or span. After determining the size or span, the bowler can easily chose a bowling ball from the provided house balls. Also, the present disclosure provides a plurality of interchangeable thumb inserts that are sized to the particular bowler and are removable positioned into the house ball.

Accordingly to the present disclosure, a bowing center bowling ball system comprises a mechanism to size the bowler's hand. The mechanism provides the bowler with a hand size, selected from a small number of hand sizes, that correspond to the best fit or custom fit for the bowler in a bowling ball. The plurality of bowling balls each has a desired weight and finger hole configuration. The finger hole configurations correspond to the small number of hand sizes. The plurality of balls are individually coded so that once the bowler has his hand sized, the bowler can select a bowling ball from the plurality of bowling balls, using the coding, to provide the bowler with the desired ball with a desired weight and desired finger configuration. A plurality of removable thumb inserts is available to the bowler to provide a proper thumb size hole for the bowler, which can be inserted into the chosen ball. A small number of hand sizes are generally between 4 and 12. Also, the mechanism includes finger and thumb hole sets that correspond to the small number of hand sizes to enable the bowler to insert his hand into the finger and thumb hole sets until the bowler determines his hand size. The bowling balls can be color coded for weight, hand size or both. Also, the bowling balls can be coded with indicia for weight, hand size or both.

According to an additional embodiment of the disclosure, a method of choosing a house ball comprises entering a venue that includes bowling alleys. Positioning the bowler's hand into at least one finger hole set to determine the bowler's hand size. The bowler chooses a bowling ball from a plurality of house balls at the venue. The choosing process includes reviewing information that provides a code that matches the desired hand size with a desired bowling ball from the plurality of house balls. The desire house ball is ready for use. Additionally, a removable thumb insert may be chosen to couple with the bowling ball. The code includes choosing a bowling ball with a specific color, indicia or both. Also, the code may include information on the desired bowling ball weight.

In accordance with an additional embodiment of the disclosure, a method of providing a plurality of house bowling balls comprises obtaining hundreds of bowling balls with specific finger hole and thumb hole sets. The finger holes have a specific depth and angle. Also, the thumb holes are spaced a specific distance from the finger holes. Finger holes and thumb holes form a hole set on each bowling ball. A small number of hole sets are available and are formed into all of the bowling balls corresponding to a small number of hand sizes. Removable thumb inserts are provided to couple with the hundreds of bowling balls to provide a desired fit to a user's hand after the user has found his desired hand size from the small number of hand sizes. The bowling balls are coded by color to correspond to the desired hand size. The bowling balls include indicia to correspond to the hand size. The weight of the ball is also coded.

Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. It should be understood that the description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way.

FIG. 1 is a perspective schematic view of a bowling center.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a mechanism to measure a bowler's hand size.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a plurality of thumb inserts.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a bowling ball of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 6(a)-(d) are elevation views of coding sequences for the bowling balls.

• Provisional Patent
• Utility Patent

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