GB2150843A - Indoor bowls game apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

The apparatus may comprise a table having a playing surface, gulleys, cushions and spirit level means for use with height-adjustable legs. Biased bowls are delivered to the playing surface by a chute assembly 42 which is adjustable both vertically and horizontally. The chute assembly comprises a base 52, having a folded flange 54 to raise the rear end of the assembly, and a pivot and hinge assembly 48 carrying a main chute member 56 in which an inner chute 58 is slidably received. Details of biased bowls and the preferred table are disclosed. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Bowls game apparatus This invention relates to bowls game apparatus.

The game of bowls is currently enjoying increased popularity but to the Applicant's knowledge there has, to date, not been proposed or provided bowls game apparatus enabling an adequately authentic miniature game of bowls to be played indoors and on a scale suitable for use on a table or the like and an aim of the present invention is to provide improved bowls game apparatus which may provide improvements in one or more of these respects.

According to the invention there is provided bowls game apparatus comprising bowl delivery means comprising an inclined chute.

The inclined chute may be provided with adjustment means whereby the inclination of the chute with respect to the playing surface is adjustable. Alternatively, or in addition, means may be provided whereby the attitude of the chute is adjustable with respect to the playing surface so as to control the direction of delivery of a bowl. The adjustment means for adjusting the inclination and/or the attitude of the chute may comprise single pivot means located in the region of the delivery end of the chute and permitting both said adjustments.

The chute may comprise a telescopic assembly of chute members. The chute members are preferably of trough-shaped cross section.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided bowls game apparatus comprising a playing surface comprising a layer of felt-like textile material adapted to decelerate a bowl thereon in an authentic manner.

More than one layer of textile material may be provided. The upper layer may comprise green baize or the like. The other layer of textile material may comprise a non-woven felt of textile filaments. Preferably the filaments have resilient or elastomeric qualities. For example, the layer of textile material may comprise a layer of Elastrometric yarn as sold under the trade mark "Novertex".

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided bowls game apparatus comprising a playing surface provided with levelling means. The levelling means may comprise spirit level means or the like. The spirit level means may be located in or on a raised edge adjacent the playing surface. The levelling means may also comprise height-adjustable legs or supports for the playing surface.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided bowls game apparatus comprising one or more bowls formed with means to provide a bias in the motion of the bowl. The bowl may be formed of steel. The bowl may have generally flat opposite side faces. Grooves may be formed in the side faces. The grooves may be arranged in the form of circles on each side face, the circles being aranged concentrically.

The circles may be arranged to provide the bowl with said bias. The circles may be provided by grooves having the same depth but of differing diameters and/or spacing. The grooves may be formed by a milling operation.

The invention also provides bowls game apparatus comprising any novel feature or combination of novel features disclosed herein.

Embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a playing surface of bowls game apparatus; Figure2 shows a section on the line ll-ll in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a section on the line Ill-Ill in Figure 1; Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a chute assembly; Figure 5 shows a plan view of a base or support member of the chute assembly; Figure 6 shows a side elevation view of the base of Figure 5; Figure 7 shows a plan view of an assembly of chute members forming part of the bowl delivery means; Figure 8 shows a side elevation view of the chute assembly; Figure 9 shows a section on the line IX-IX in Figure 8; Figure 10 shows a section on the line X-X in Figure 8; Figure 11 shows a side elevation view of a bowl;; Figure 12 shows a plan view of the bowl of Figure 11; Figure 13 shows the opposite side elevation view of the bowl of Figure 11; and Figure 14 shows a scrap cross-sectional view, on a larger scale, through a groove formed in the bowl of Figures 11 and 13.

As shown in Figures 1 to 3, bowls game apparatus comprises a board or bowling rink table 10 having a playing surface 12 with end cushions 14, 16 and side cushions 18, 20. The board 10 is formed as a wood fabrication with wooden side panels.

Levelling means is provided for the playing surface 12 in the form of spirit level means 22, 24 mounted in the side walls or side cushions 18,20. The spirit level means comprises, as in the conventional builder's tool, a transparent glass tube containing a liquid and formed with a positionable level-indicating bubble. The glass tube extends lengthwise of the respective side cushions of the board 10. Any suitable alternative level-indicating means may be employed instead.

In addition to the spirit level means 22,24 there are provided height-adjustable legs or supports 26 below board 10 whereby the playing surface 12 can be adjusted to a perfectly horizontal attitude.

At the opposite ends of the playing surface 12 there are provided channels 28, 30 to collect or receive the bowls during the course of a game.

As shown in Figure 2, playing surface 12 is formed by a bed 32 of wood or other rigid material provided with a surface layer of felt-like textile material adapted to decelerate the bowls in an authentic manner. The textile material comprises a first felt-like layer of textile filamentary material of the kind sold under the trade mark "Novertex". This layer is identified by the reference numeral 34.

Superimposed on layer 34 is a layer of green baize 36 which provides the upper and visible surface of the playing surface 10 on which the bowls are rolled during a game.

The textile layers 34, 36 are suitably adhered to bed 32 by any convenient means to provide a well secured playing surface.

The end cushions, 14, 16 and side cushions 18, 20 are provided with inner layers of suitable felt-like textile cushion material which may be of the same material as layer 34, or layer 36, or a combination of both.

The bowls game apparatus further comprises bowl delivery means 40 shown in Figures 4 to 10 and comprising a chute 42 which is adjustable in its angle 44 of inclination with respect to playing surface 12 and with respect to its attitude angle 46 whereby the direction of delivery of a bowl is controlled.

A pivot assembly 48 is provided whereby both the angles 44 and 46 are adjustable prior to release of a bowl from the upper end 50 of chute 42.

The chute 42 is mounted on a base 52 shown in Figures 5 and 6 and having a folded flange 54 providing a raised rear end of the assembly.

Chute 42 comprises a telescopic assembly of a main chute member 56 and an inner chute member 58 slidably received therein. The two chute members are of generally trough-shaped configuration, as shown in Figures 9 and 10.

The structure of the bowls is shown in Figures 11 to 14. Each bowl 60 is formed of mild steel and comprises generally flat opposite side faces 62,64 in which circular grooves 66, 68 and 70 and 72,74 and 76 are formed by milling. The grooves 72,74 and 76 in side face 64 are of larger overall diameter than the grooves 66, 68 and 70 in the side face 62, whereby the bowl has biased motion as in the conventional full size game of bowls. Figure 14 shows a cross section of the grooves formed in the bowls.

In use, the bowls are delivered to the playing surface from the upper end 50 of chute 42. The chute is first adjusted by the player to determine the speed and angle of presentation of the bowl to the playing surface 12 of the board 10. The player directs the chute and estimates the angle of elevation of the chute to produce the required velocity.

The spirit level means 22, 24 and the adjustable feet 26 enable the playing surface 12 to be perfectly horizontal.

The milled bowls of mild steel as described above provide, in use, a bias in the motion of the bowls which is an accurate reproduction of the behaviour of real full size bowls when played upon a bowling green.

Moreover the playing surface 12 including the layer of felt-like material 34 (which may be of Elastrometric yarn known as "Novertex") below the baize playing surface produces the effect of decelerating the bowls in an authentic manner.

The features of the game as described above enable a game of miniature or table bowls to be played in which the result is determined very much by the skill of each player in assessing the speed and angle of delivery of the bowls to the bowling green or playing surface 12.

It will be noted from Figure 8 that chute 42 can be adjusted by means of pivot assembly 48 about the upwardly extending axis Zso as to change the direction of delivery of a bowl. The same pivot assembly permits adjustment of the chute about a generally horizontal axis ( not shown ). Where the latter adjustment is made some corresponding adjustment of the telescopic chute members 56 and 58 may be needed by relative sliding movement of these members so that the delivery end of the chute is properly positioned relative to the playing surface 12.

With regard to the dimensions of the various parts of the bowls game apparatus described above, naturally considerable variation is possible according to the requirements of the user. However, by way of example only, the following dimensions are given by reference to indications of the same entered on the drawings: Overall length apparatus 10 ( L1 Fig.3): 2115 millimetres Overall width of apparatus 10 (W4Fig.2): 826 millimetres Length of base 52 ( L2 Fig. 4): 165 millimetres Width of chute 42 (W5 Fig. 9): 35 millimetres Bowl diameter ( D1 Fig.1 l: 26.8 millimetres Bowl radii (Fig. 12): R1 : 11.4 millimetres R2 : 15.2 millimetres R3 : 8.0 millimetres R4 : 4.0 millimetres R5 : 60.0 millimetres R6 : 60.0 millimetres Bowl width ( W1 Fig. 12): 23.8 millimetres Groove widths (W2 and W3 Fig. 14): 0.25millimetres each Groove side angles ( A and B Fig.14): 45" each Many modifications can of course be made in the detailed construction of the embodiment described above while remaining within the scope of the invention claimed, such modifications including details of the shape and form of the chute assembly, its method of pivoting and adjustment, the exact profile of the bowls and the means for biassing them.

It will be understood that the apparatus disclosed above relates to the playing of a " miniature " game of bowls for which the size of the apparatus is considerably reduced with respect to that of the full size outdoor game. The disclosed apparatus is applicable principally to a game played on a table, but may also be applicable to a corresponding game played on the floor, whether on a carpet or a specially provided surface.

Claims (26)

1. Bowls game apparatus comprising bowl delivery means comprising an inclined chute.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the chute has adjustment means whereby the inclination of the chute has adjustment means to a playing surface is adjustable.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the attitude of the chute is adjustable with respect to a playing surface, by angular movement about a generally upwardly extending axis so as to control the direction of delivery of a bowl.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2 or claim 3 wherein said adjustment means for adjusting the inclination and/or the attitude of the chute comprises single pivot means located in the region of the delivery end of the chute.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said pivot means permits both adjustment of the inclination and adjustment of the delivery direction attitude of the chute.

6. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the chute comprises a telescopic assembly of chute members.

7. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said chute is of trough or channel shaped cross-section.

8. Bowls game apparatus comprising a playing surface comprising a layer of felt-like textile material adapted to decelerate a bowl thereon in an authentic manner.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein more than one layer of textile material is provided.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the upper layer of said textile material comprises green baize or the like.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the other or another layer of textile material of the playing surface comprises a non-woven felt of textile filaments.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said filaments have resilient or elastomeric properties.

13. Bowls game apparatus comprising a playing surface provided with levelling means.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the levelling means comprises spirit level means or the like.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the spirit level means is located in or on a raised edge adjacent a playing surface of the apparatus.

16. Apparatus according to any one of claims 13to 15wherein the Ivelling means also comprises height-adjustable legs or supports for a playing surface of the apparatus.

17. Bowls game apparatus comprising one or more bowls formed with means to provide a bias in the motion of the bowl.

18. Apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said bowl is formed of steel.

19. Apparatus according to claim 17 or claim 18 wherein said bowl has generally flat or larger radius of curvature opposite side faces.

20. Apparatus according to claim 19 wherein grooves are formed in said side faces of the bowl.

21. Apparatus according to claim 20 wherein said grooves are arranged in the form of circles on each side face of the bowl, said circles being arranged concentrically.

22. Apparatus according to claim 20 wherein said circles are arranged to provide the bowl with said bias.

23. Apparatus according to claim 22 wherein said circles are provided by grooves having similar depths but differing diameters and/or spacings.

24. Apparatus according to claim 23 wherein said grooves are formed by milling operations.

25. Bowls game apparatus substantially as described herein.

26. Bowls game apparatus substantially as described herein and as shown in the accompanying drawings.