GB2127300A - Bowls equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

Equipment for playing zone- scoring bowls is provided which includes a mat marked with a number of concentric annular scoring zones (21 to 24) around a central scoring zone (25). The thickness and form of the mat is such that the mat has substantially no effect on the running of a bowl passing onto the mat. The bowls each comprise a generally spherical body provided with a flat area. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Bowls equipment The present invention relates to equipment for use in the game of bowls and in particular, but not exclusively, to equipment for playing zone-scoring bowls.

Conventional bowls, whether played outside on flat or crown greens, or indoors on artificial playing surfaces, involves bowling at a jack generally bowled up the playing surface at the start of a round of play (known as an "end"). Scoring is based on closeness of the bowls to the jack once all the bowls have been delivered; more specifically, the player with one or more bowls closer to the jack than the nearest of the components bowls is generally accredited a corresponding number of points.

However, a form of bowls is also known in which no jack is used, the objective of the bowler being to bowl his bowl into one or more scoring zones marked on the playing surface. Generally, a number of differently-valued scoring zones are provided, for example, laid out transversely of the length of the playing surface with the zone nearest the player being allotted the lowest score value and the most distant zone the highest value. This form of bowls can be generally described as zone-scoring bowls.

It is an object of the present invention to provide equipment suitable for facilitating the playing of a form of zone-scoring bowls.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided equipment for playing zonescoring bowls, comprising a mat which is intended to be placed on a playing surface and is marked with a number of concentric annular scoring zones around a central circular scoring zone, the thickness and form of the mat being such that the mat itself has substantially no effect on the running of a bowl passing onto the mat from the playing surface upon which the mat is placed.

Preferably the mat is made of rubber 1/32 inch (0.79 mm) thick.

Advantageously, the mat is marked with four annular scoring zones which, taken in order towards the central zone, may, for example, be valued "1", "2", "3" and "5" respectively with the central zone being valued "10". Adjacent zones can be of different colours with alternate zones being similarly coloured.

When used with standard-sized bowls on a conventionally-sized playing surface, the mat preferably has a diameter of four feet (1.22 m) with each annular zone having a radial width of 4.8 inches (122 mm) and the central zone a diameter of 9.6 inches (244 mm).

For domestic versions of the game intended to be played on smaller-sized playing surfaces (for example, along corridors or on back lawns), the mat advantageously has a diameter of three feet (0.91 m) with each annular zone having a radial width of 3.6 inches (91 mm). In this case, smaller non-standard bowls are preferably used, these bowls being, for example, formed from a plastics material and being effectively weighted to one side simply by giving the bowl a flattened profile on the opposite side thereby to offset the centre of gravity of the bowl from the centre of curvature of the bowl's curved exterior.

Thus, according to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided bowls equipment comprising a set of bowls in which each bowl is eccentrically weighted by forming the bowl with a flattened surface portion on one side only.

Particularly with the domestic form of zonescoring bowls, rules may provide that out of the four bowls which generally make up a set of bowls, one of these bowls will count for double for scoring purposes. To this end, one bowl of the set can be distinctively identified by being differently coloured.

Thus according to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided bowls equipment comprising a set of bowls in which one bowl of the set is differently coloured from the other bowls of the set.

Various other novel aspects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description of zone-scoring bowls equipment for conventionally-sized playing areas and for domestic use, reference being made to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure lisa plan view of a zone-scoring bowls mat, and Figure 2 is a side elevation of a plastics bowl for use in domestic zone-scoring bowls.

Shown in Figure 1 is a zone-scoring bowls mat which is made out of rubber 1/32 inch (0.79 mm) thick and is marked with four annular scoring zones 21, 22, 23, and 24 concentrically disposed around a central circular scoring zone 25. Adjacent zones are differently coloured with alternate zones being of the same colour. Each zone is marked with a value, the central zone 25 being marked with a value "10" and the annular zones 24 to 21 being respectively marked with values "5", "3", "2" and "1".

For zone-scoring bowls to be played on a conventionally-sized playing area such as an outdoor green or an indoor carpet, the mat is dimensioned such that each annular zone 21 to 24 has a radial width of 4.8 inches (122 mm) while the central circular zone 25 has a diameter of 9.6 inches (244 mm).

In use, the mat is placed at one end of playing surface and is bowled at from the opposite end of the playing surface using conventional bowls, the thickness and character of the mat being such that it has substantially no effect on the running characteristics of the bowls. Typically, the zone-scoring mat will be between 25 and 27 yards (22.9 and 24.7 metres) from the front edge of a delivery mat used by the players.

Points are scored for all bowls part of which cover the zone-scoring mat. Where a bowl finishes up extending up across the boundary between two scoring zones, then normally the bowl will be attributed the score value of the higher scoring of the two zones concerned. Scored points are added up at the completion of an "end" with the winning player orteam being either the first to reach a predetermined score value or the player or team having the highest score value at the completion of a predetermined number of "ends".

The game may be played as singles, pairs, triples or fours and generally for the singles game each player will use four bowls delivered alternately while for all other forms of the game each player has only two balls, delivered alternately.

For domestic versions of zone-scoring bowls, the zone-scoring mat is preferably made smaller than the conventionally-sized mat described above. Thus, a domestic zone-scoring mat may have annular scoring zones 21 to 24 of 3.6 inches (91 mm) in radial width with the central circular zone 25 being 7.2 inches (182 mm) in diameter. The domestic form of the game can be played in corridors and on lawns of restricted size using either conventional bowls or, preferably, three-quarter size bowls.

On suitable form of bowl for domestic use (but which, of course, can be used in other applications) is shown in Figure 2 and comprises a spherical plastics body 26 one face 27 of which has a flat profile. By shaping the bowl in this manner, the bowl is made to draw in one direction when bowled, without the need to insert eccentric weights into the bowl, the assymetry of the bowl's profile ensuring that the centre of gravity of the bowl is offset to one side of the centre of curvature of the body 26. The bowl may be a solid foamed plastics structure or may comprise a hollow plastics shell with or without an internal filler material.

In the domestic form of zone-scoring bowls, one bowl of the set of bowls delivered by each player can be designated a double-scoring bowl by which is meant that the points scored by this bowl are twice the face value of the scoring zone upon which the bowl stops. Clearly, this bowl must be distinguished from the other bowls used by a player to prevent the player claiming that his highest scoring bowl was is double-scoring bowl. To this end, the double-scoring bowl is preferably coloured a different colour from the other bowls of the player. Where the bowls are made of a plastics material, the colouring of the double-scoring bowl can be readily effected by using differently coloured plastics material stocks for the double-scoring bowl and the remaining bowls of the same set.

Various modifications are, of course, possible to the described zone-scoring bowls equipment. Thus, for example, the mat shown in Figure 1 could be provided with a different number of annular scoring zones and/or the scoring zones could be differently valued. Furthermore, in cases where a playing surface is provided in the form of a length of carpet, the scoring zones could be marked directly on the carpet rather than being provided on a separate mat placed on the carpet.

CLAIMS (FILED ON 16.9.83.) 1. Equipment for playing zone-scoring bowls, comprising a mat which is intended to be placed on a playing surface and is marked with a number of concentric annular scoring zones around a central scoring zone, the thickness and form of the mat being such that the mat itself has substantially no effect on the running of a bowl passing onto the mat from the playing surface upon which the mat is placed.

2. Equipment according to Claim 1, wherein the mat has a thickness substantially equal to 0.8 mm.

3. Equipment according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the mat is marked with four annular scoring zones.

4. Equipment according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein adjacent scoring zones of the mat are different colours.

5. Equipment according to Claim 3, wherein the mat has a diameter substantially equal to 1.2 m with each annular scoring zone having a radial width of 0.12 m.

6. Equipment according to Claim 3, wherein the mat has a diameter substantially equal to 0.9 m with each annular scoring zone having a radial width of 0.09 m.

7. Equipment according to Claim 1, further comprising a set of bowls formed from a plastics material, each bowl being effectively weighted to one side by virtue of the fact that the bowl has a flattened profile on the opposite side thereby offsetting the centre of gravity of the bowl from the centre of curvature of the bowl's curved exterior.

8. Equipment according to Claim 1, further including a set of bowls, one bowl of the set being distinctively identified by being differently coloured.

9. Equipment for playing zone-scoring bowls the equipment including a mat substantially as herein before described with reference to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (9)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. or fours and generally for the singles game each player will use four bowls delivered alternately while for all other forms of the game each player has only two balls, delivered alternately. For domestic versions of zone-scoring bowls, the zone-scoring mat is preferably made smaller than the conventionally-sized mat described above. Thus, a domestic zone-scoring mat may have annular scoring zones 21 to 24 of 3.6 inches (91 mm) in radial width with the central circular zone 25 being 7.2 inches (182 mm) in diameter. The domestic form of the game can be played in corridors and on lawns of restricted size using either conventional bowls or, preferably, three-quarter size bowls. On suitable form of bowl for domestic use (but which, of course, can be used in other applications) is shown in Figure 2 and comprises a spherical plastics body 26 one face 27 of which has a flat profile. By shaping the bowl in this manner, the bowl is made to draw in one direction when bowled, without the need to insert eccentric weights into the bowl, the assymetry of the bowl's profile ensuring that the centre of gravity of the bowl is offset to one side of the centre of curvature of the body 26. The bowl may be a solid foamed plastics structure or may comprise a hollow plastics shell with or without an internal filler material. In the domestic form of zone-scoring bowls, one bowl of the set of bowls delivered by each player can be designated a double-scoring bowl by which is meant that the points scored by this bowl are twice the face value of the scoring zone upon which the bowl stops. Clearly, this bowl must be distinguished from the other bowls used by a player to prevent the player claiming that his highest scoring bowl was is double-scoring bowl. To this end, the double-scoring bowl is preferably coloured a different colour from the other bowls of the player. Where the bowls are made of a plastics material, the colouring of the double-scoring bowl can be readily effected by using differently coloured plastics material stocks for the double-scoring bowl and the remaining bowls of the same set. Various modifications are, of course, possible to the described zone-scoring bowls equipment. Thus, for example, the mat shown in Figure 1 could be provided with a different number of annular scoring zones and/or the scoring zones could be differently valued. Furthermore, in cases where a playing surface is provided in the form of a length of carpet, the scoring zones could be marked directly on the carpet rather than being provided on a separate mat placed on the carpet. CLAIMS (FILED ON 16.9.83.)

1. Equipment for playing zone-scoring bowls, comprising a mat which is intended to be placed on a playing surface and is marked with a number of concentric annular scoring zones around a central scoring zone, the thickness and form of the mat being such that the mat itself has substantially no effect on the running of a bowl passing onto the mat from the playing surface upon which the mat is placed.

2. Equipment according to Claim 1, wherein the mat has a thickness substantially equal to 0.8 mm.

3. Equipment according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the mat is marked with four annular scoring zones.

4. Equipment according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein adjacent scoring zones of the mat are different colours.

5. Equipment according to Claim 3, wherein the mat has a diameter substantially equal to 1.2 m with each annular scoring zone having a radial width of 0.12 m.

6. Equipment according to Claim 3, wherein the mat has a diameter substantially equal to 0.9 m with each annular scoring zone having a radial width of 0.09 m.

7. Equipment according to Claim 1, further comprising a set of bowls formed from a plastics material, each bowl being effectively weighted to one side by virtue of the fact that the bowl has a flattened profile on the opposite side thereby offsetting the centre of gravity of the bowl from the centre of curvature of the bowl's curved exterior.

8. Equipment according to Claim 1, further including a set of bowls, one bowl of the set being distinctively identified by being differently coloured.

9. Equipment for playing zone-scoring bowls the equipment including a mat substantially as herein before described with reference to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.