AU617890B2 - Bowls trainer - Google Patents

Description

3LI~I)C* 4 61 890 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR OFFICE USE Application Number: Lodged: Class Int. Class Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: Priority: Related Art: TO BE OOMPLETED BY APPLICANT Name of Applicant: Address of Applicant: Actual Inventor/s: Address for Service: Complete Specification Daniel Mannix DICKENSON 175 Maroondah Highway, Chirnside Park, Vic. 3116.

Daniel Mannix DICKENSON SMITH SHELSTON BEADLE 207 Riversdale Road Box 410) Hawthorn, 3122, Victoria, Australia for the invention entitled: BOWLS TRAINER The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: Page 1 Our Ref: #2084 MW:RB -2 The present invention relates generally to a training device for ball games. More specifically the invention relates to a training device for ball games usir.g a ball delivered in an underarm bowling fashion.

A large number of sports and games involve the skilful manipulation of a ball, either in delivery or reccipt. In the skilled delivery of a ball, one of a number of requirements must be met in order to properly control the >Cprojectile. Firstly, the point of delivery must be accurately obtained; secondly, the speed of delivery must be controlled and in addition, the direction of final delivery can also have an influence on the quality of that delivery.

Depending on the particular type of ball game or sport being practised, other motions of the ball besides paint, speed and direction of delivery may contribute to the quality of the action. The final result of a ball's delivery is thus the summation of a complex array of 0o 0 influences which require repeated practice in order to improve a player's skill in any one given activity.

In order to perfect the required skills, practice by actually playing a given game or participating in a given sport is perhaps the best form of training. However, most activities are either of a team nature, outdoors or require complex equipment. Hence, it is not always possible for a practitioner to conveniently train or practice his chosen activity.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved bowls training device.

891026, !MWSPE010,bowls.spe, Accordingly, the invention provides a training device for bowling balls comprising an inclined track dimensioned to receive a rolling ball at the lower end and cause said ball to follow said track in an upwardly extending path whereby the ball is caused to reverse direction and roll back down the track in the opposite direction.

In a preferred form, the track is upwardly curved and adapted to accommodate a ball for playing lawn bowls.

The track mi'ay incorporate at its uppermost end, a stop means to prevent the ball from overshooting the end of 000 track.

0,0V Preferably, the track has a support means to support the inclined end of the track. The support means may have a pivotal or interlocking connection to the track and project Coco 00 above the track to act as a stop.

t0 0" 0 to In a particularly preferred form, the track is of 6* 0 singular rod formation with a circular cross-section bent 0 oooo0 around to form curved parallel rails spaced to accommodate 0* 06 said ball.

0 More preferably still, the track is made of mild steel coated with plastic, and the lower ends of the track are splayed and incorporate inclined flat surfaces to facilitate receipt of the ball onto the track.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the training device.

Figure 2 is a plan view Fiqure 3 is a side elevation.

891026, i 4 Figure 4,5 detail the interlocking mechanism of the support and track.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the training device of the present invention, wherein the curved inclined track comprises two spaced parallel rails 1,3 which are joined at the top by an integral loop 2 to form a one piece continuous track. The lower end of the track splays outwardly at an angle of about 150 4,5 and incorporates a pair of inclined <"oo flat surfaces 6,7 which assist in directing a bowled ball onto the track 1,3. The spaced parallel rails 1,3 form the o" °majority of the track and incorporate a stabilizing plate 12 which is secured to the two parallel rails 1,3 about 500 mm from the lower end to assist in locating the device on the floor and maintaining the rails 1,3 in a parallel relationship (see Figure 2).

A support means comprising two stepped converging rails or legs 8,13 which are joined at the top by an integral loop 14 and are interlockably connected to the curved inclined track via a connecting means 9 in order to support said 0 0 curved inclined track 1,3.

The loop 14 of the support means overlaps the top loop 2 of the inclined track so as to form a stop in order to limit the path of the bowled ball up the inclined track.

The stepped legs 8,13 of the support means give the track a broad support base and ensure a stable footing for the training device.

The rails and legs are made from circular cross-section mild steel of about 13 mm diameter which is plastic coated and formed to the specification given in the figures wherein 891026,!MWSPE010,bowls.spe, Ir ra -L 1.

5 the rails for the inclined track begin at the lower end with a straight section of about 500 mm, about 250 mm of which is splayed, joining an upward curve having a radius of about 765 mm over an arc of about 55O, then joining a straight section of about 175 mm which finally joins to the loop section and repeats the parallel rail to complete the track.

The legs 8,13 of the support means are similarly 01- constructed of circular cross-section mild steel of about 13 0 o oo mm diameter which is plastic coated and formed to the 0 a specification given in the figures wherein the legs 8,13 are o °Z formed of a straight length of about 200 mm which is joined 0oo0 000 to an inwardly splayed length of about 150 mm which then joins to another straight length of about 200 mm and finally joins the loop section and repeats the mating leg.

o 00oo 0Figure 2 gives a plan view of the training device where o 0o o 0 the splay 4,5 of the lower end of the rails 1,3 is clearly 0 shown. The top end loop 2 of the inclined track 1,3 can be o 0 Soooo seen to fall within the top loop 14 of the support means thereby allowing the loop 14 to act as a stop.

0 0 Figure 3 shows a side elevation where the radius of the track 3 is clearly shown along with the optimum angle of interlocking of the support means 13/8.

Figure 4,5 detail the connecting means 9 which allows the track 32 and support means 13 to be interlocked in a simple manner facilitating a secure device which may be readily disassembled and stored.

In order to allow the support means and track 3 to be interlocked, two crossbars 15, 11 are provided on opposite sides of the support member 13 in such a juxtaposition to Aalnlg tmwMwqPTnlln.hnw1-,_- nt= L~ 6 o 0 0 aO 0 0 0 O0 0 00co o i a -9 4 2I 0oo o 00 0 0 00 So 000000 0 O 4 000400 o 0 0co allow interlocking with a cross bar 16 and cross member provided on opposite sides of the track 3.

The inclined track 1,3 has two one piece bars 18 and 19 bridging the sides of the track and attached to alternate faces of the track whereby bar 18 is affixed to the underside of the track and bar 19 is affixed to the upperside of the track. The bars are separated by a distance of about 2cm.

The legs 8,13 have a corresponding arrangement where a one piece bar 17 bridges the legs on the inside fall and two piece bar or lugs 16 are attached to the outside face of the legs.

The bar 18 extends beyond the width of the inclined track such that upona ssembly the lugs 16 interlock with the bar 18 anbd the corresponding bar 17 interlocks with the bar 19 to rigidly assemble the training device.

From the representation in figure 5 ist can be clearly seen that the assembly of the device requires the support means to be slipped over the end of the track and locked together by the weight of the combined elements (track and support means).

From the foregoing, it can be seen that the instant invention provides a portable, high quality training device for lawn bowling or similar sports. The device is placed in a suitable location inside or outside and allows a bowler to deliver a ball into the lower end of the device such that under suitable control, the ball shall approach the inclined trpck at the correct speed and direction of approach to mount and ascend the inclined tract. If the ball is Pal VV)c t hIAT.701MfL l 1-,l.1 il_ _I____ICCIII1III_; -7 delivered with the correct speed, its momentum will be sufficient to ascend the track and return with enough speed to fully return to the bowler.

Hence, the type of ball control required to effectively deliver a ball to the device and have it returned to the bowler reflect the control required in the game and the device serves as a compact and convenient training device.

ao The articles, things, parts, elements, steps, features, methods, processes, compounds and compositions referred to o or indicated in the specification and/or claims of the 0 a 0"0 application individually or collectively, and any and all aeo0 combinations of any two or more of such.

000 0 0 00 0 0 00 0 0 00 0 000000 0 0 a 4 00 B 0* 891026, MWSPE010,bowls.spe,

Claims (10)

1. A training device for bowling balls comprising an inclined track dimensioned to receive a rolling ball at the lower end and cause said ball to follow said track in an upwardly extending path whereby the ball is caused to reverse direction and roll back down the track in the opposite direction.

2. A training device according to claim 1 wherein the inclined track is upwardly curved and adapted to accommodate a ball for playing lawn bowls.

3. A training device according to any one of claims 1 or 2 wherein the track incorporates a stop means to prevent the ball from overshooting the end of the track.

4. A training device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the track has a support means to support the end of the track.

5. A training device according to claim 4 wherein the support means has a pivotal connection to the inclined track.

6. A training device according to any one of claims 4 or 5 wherein the support means has an interlocking connection to the inclined track.

7. A training device according to claim 6 wherein the interlocking means comprises two one-piece bars bridging the sides of the track and attached to alternate faces of the track whereby one bar is affixed to the underside of the track and the other bar is affixed to the upperside of the track, two further one-piece bars bridge the support means whereby one bar bridges the RA\ /i ~P-G 0t~/ mwspe#2084 91 9 12 9 support means on the inside and the other bar bridges the support means on the outside.

8. A training device according to any one of claims to 7 wherein the track and support means are constructed of singular rod formation with circular cross-section bent around to form curved parallel rails spaced to accommodate said ball.

9. A training device according to any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the track and support means is constructed of mild steel coated with plastic and the lower end of S0 the track are splayed and incorporate inclined flat 0 9 :o o surfaces to facilitate receipt of the ball onto the o*oo track. ooQ oo

"10. A training device according to any one of claims 1 to 9 as hereinbefore described with particular reference o to figures 1 to 0 00 DATED this 12 September 1991 0 0 CARTER SMITH BEAIDLE Fellows Institute of Patent Attorneys of Australia Patent Attorneys for the Applicant: DANIEL MANNIX DICKENSON we 41 mwspe#2084 91 9 12