GB2275874A

GB2275874A - Indoor bowl

Info

Publication number: GB2275874A
Application number: GB9404366A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Charles Peter Townsend
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-03-11
Filing date: 1994-03-07
Publication date: 1994-09-14
Anticipated expiration: 2014-03-07
Also published as: GB9404366D0; GB2275874B; GB9304951D0

Abstract

The invention provides an indoor bowl (1) comprising a body with a circumferential rolling surface (2) and side portions (3) disposed about a rolling axis (8). The invention provides the improvement of an empty blind bore (5) extending into the body of said bowl from the side portion (3). This arrangement allows the bowl to be biased even if symmetrical about the rolling axis, and to be readily manufactured. A closure panel 4 is provided. <IMAGE>

Description

INDOOR BOWL The present invention relates to bowls, and particularly to indoor bowls.

The game of bowls is well known and is governed by the rules of The International Bowling Board (IBB). Full-sized bowls for utilisation on a traditional bowling green have a diameter between 117.4 and 130.2 mm and a maximum weight of 1.59 kg.

The circumference of the rolling surface of a traditional bowl is formed asymmetrically in transverse cross-section such that the bowl will tend to roll along a curved path. A bowl differs from a ball in that the rolling diameter exceeds that of the rolling axis.

Bowls is usually played on a bowling green and has been successfully translated to sports halls, etc. utilising bowls of a slightly reduced diameter, and a mat with a smooth surface.

The present invention is primarily concerned with the miniaturisation of the game of bowls so that it can be played domestically. Generally speaking such a game will be played on a carpet and in such conditions a scaled down bowl lacks the weight to roll predictably on such pile surfaces, and accordingly the asymmetric rolling configuration, combined with a carpet surface, tends to result in an unpredictable track for the rolled bowl.

Attempts have been made, for example in GB-A-11462/46, to overcome this by providing a symmetric rolling surface; the bowls being biased by means of an axially disposed weight inserted in the body of the bowl. These operate satisfactorily. However, they are expensive to manufacture because the weight utilised must be positioned not only coaxially, but also exactly equi-distant from the axial point (hereinafter described) of the bowl. If this is not achieved reliably, sets of bowls will have different rolling characteristics which is not acceptable to those skilled in the game.

Further weighted balls are known for use with other apparatus for example from GB-A-381386, but when light weight balls are used these are said to be provided with a weighted plug to one side. Further these balls are round and not symmetrical about a central axis as is the case in a traditional bowl; neither is the ball designed for free rolling.

A further problem lies in the cost of manufacture of indoor bowls. In order to bring indoor bowls into the domestic arena it is necessary to manufacture them economically. Previously symmetric bowls have been made and as indicated above have had to be the subject of careful production steps to get a reliably handed product. The present invention has as an object therefore the provision of a method for the economical production of a symmetric or asymmetric bowl by a plastics moulding technique, particularly an injection moulding technique.

The present invention provides, therefore in one aspect a bowl comprising a body with a circumferential rolling surface and side portions disposed about a rolling axis, comprising a blind bore extending into the body of said bowl from a side portion. In a preferred form of the invention, the circumferential rolling surface is symmetrical about said rolling axis. In a further feature of the invention the bore may extend into the body from one side portion only. Blind bores of different lengths extending from each side portion are also comprehended by the invention. The blind bore may extend co-axially in the body of the bowl, or may extend off axis at a predetermined angle if desired. The blind bore may have a common diameter throughout its length, or may be convergent or divergent as desired in order to provide the rolling characteristics required.The blind bore generally has a circular cross-section, but may, of course, have a crosssection which is other than circular, for example square, hexagonal or ovoid.

The entrance to the blind bore is preferably covered by a panel secured into a rebate so that the exterior of the side portions of the bowl are generally smooth. The panel is of a negligible weight.

In a preferred form of the invention, the rolling diameter of the bowl and the width of the side portions are in a ratio of 5:3 to 10:9. The bowl may be formed of wood or of a moulded plastics material. When the bowl is formed of a moulded plastics material the blind bore may be formed simultaneously with the forming of the bowl per se.

In a further aspect of the invention there is provided a process for the manufacture of an indoor bowl comprising a body with a circumferential rolling surface and side portions disposed about a rolling axis, which comprises a blind bore extending into the body of the bowl from a side portion, which process comprises, a) forming a mould with an internal surface in correspondance with the external surface of the bowl, b) introducing an axial extension into said mould to form said blind bore, c) introducing a plastics moulding material into said mould, and subsequently recovering the so formed bowl.

It will be appreciated that by adjusting the protruding length of the axial extension into the mould and by altering its angle such that it may be co-axial, or angled to the rolling axis, the blind bore can be formed with a predetermined depth thereby altering the handling characteristics of the bowl. By utilisation therefore of a mould in accordance to the present invention it is possible to economically manufacture bowls of the same or different 'handing' characteristics. In a preferred form of the invention the mould also comprises means to form a small rebate at the peripheral outer edge of the blind bore to accommodate a light weight panel. The panel acts to indicate to the person handling the bowl the direction in which the bowl can be expected to move while rolling. The axial extension may extend into the mould for one third to one half of the total axial width of the bowl.In another form of the invention two opposed axial extensions are utilised in said mould thereby to form two blind bores which generally approach each other, preferably co-axially.

The process is preferably an injection moulding process and the moulding material is preferably a polystyrene or polyalkylene polymer.

In the foregoing the mould has been described as being provided with an axial extension. Although usually the extension is axial this is only intended to denote a generality. The 'axial' extension may be off axis by a predetermined amount. Further the extension may be readily moveable relative to the mould to provide a blind bore of an adjustable depth. Further the axial extension although usually cylindrical may have any other suitable cross-section as previously discussed herein.

The invention will now be described, by way of illustration only, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Fioure 1 shows a side elevation with the panel removed, Figure 2 shows the bowl of Figure 1 in transverse crosssection.

With reference to Figures 1 and 2 a carpet bowl (1), having in this case a diameter of approximately 50 mm, is provided about the side portions (3), portions of which may be disposed generally in parallel with each other.

A notional axial point (9) is shown in Figure 2, through which passes a rolling axis (8). It will be appreciated that as the bowl is biased towards the right-hand side as shown in the drawing of Figure 2, there will be a tendency for the bowl to roll with a right-hand bias which will cause the axis (8) to rotate relative to a notional vertical line passing through the axial point (9). The axial point (9) of course stays as an axial point whatever the orientation of the bowl.

As more clearly shown in Figure 2, the bowl in accordance with the present invention is provided with a blind bore (5) which extends co-axially towards the axial point (9) to a predetermined depth. The blind bore (5) is provided, adjacent its entrance, with a rebate (6) into which is located a panel (4). The panel (4) is retained adhesively or by means of a screw-thread etc. according to preferred manufacturing characteristics. As is shown in Figure 1 an optional annular channel (7) is provided at the general conjuncture of the rolling surface (2) and the side portions (3). The annular channel (7) is provided to indicate the position of the rolling axes.

The bowls in accordance with the present invention may be simply manufactured from a single material without additional forming steps, and accordingly may be provided economically and reliably.

The invention provides, therefore, a novel bowl and extends to an indoor bowling set comprising a bowl in accordance with the present invention.

Claims

CfrAIM8

1. A bowl comprising a body with a circumferential rolling surface, and side portions disposed about a rolling axis; characterised by an empty blind bore extending into the body of said bowl from a side portion.

2. A bowl according to Claim 1 wherein the circumferential surface is symmetrical about said axial point.

3. A bowl according to either of Claims 1 or 2 wherein the blind bore extends into the body from one side portion only.

4. A bowl according to any preceding Claim wherein the blind bore extends co-axially.

5. A bowl according to any of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the axis of the blind bore does not extend through or toward the axial point.

6. A bowl according to any preceding Claim wherein the blind bore has a common diameter, has a convergent cross section, or a divergent cross section.

7. A bowl according to any preceding Claim wherein in the blind bore has a cross-section other than circular.

8. A bowl according to any preceding Claim wherein the entrance to the bore is covered by a panel.

9. A bowl according to any preceding Claim wherein the rolling diameter of the bowl and the width of the side portion are in the ratio of 5:3 to 10:9.

10. A bowl according to any preceding Claim formed of wood or a moulded plastics material.

11. A bowl according to Claim 10 formed of a moulded plastics material wherein the bore is formed contemporaneously with the moulding thereof.

12. A process for the manufacture of a bowl comprising a body with a circumferential rolling surface and side portions disposed about a rolling axis, which comprises an empty blind bore extending into the body of said bowl from a side portion, which process comprises; a) forming a mould with an internal surface in correspondence with the external surface of the bowl, b) introducing an axial extension into said mould to form said blind bore, c) introducing a plastics moulding material into said mould, and subsequently recovering the so formed bowl.

13. A process according to Claim 12 wherein the axial extension extends more than one third of the axial width of the bowl.

14. A process according to either of Claims 12 or 13 wherein the two opposed axial extensions are utilised in said mould thereby to form two blind bores generally approaching one another.

15. A process according to Claim 14 wherein the blind bores are co-axial.

16. A process according to any of Claims 12 to 15 wherein the moulding process is an injection moulding process and the material moulded is a polystyrene or polyalkylene polymer.

17. A game set comprising a bowl according to any of Claims 1 to 11 or made by a process according to any of Claims 12 to 16.

18. A bowl substantially as hereinbefore set forth with reference to, and/or as illustrated in, Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

19. A method for the production of a bowl substantially as hereinbefore set forth with reference to, and/or as illustrated in, Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.