US2210528A

US2210528A - Bowling ball

Info

Publication number: US2210528A
Application number: US324273A
Authority: US
Inventors: Frank M Darby
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1940-03-16
Filing date: 1940-03-16
Publication date: 1940-08-06
Anticipated expiration: 1957-08-06

Description

Aug 6,, 19400 F. M. DAR

BOWLING BALL Filed March 16, 1940 @j 52 ii [a 25 IN VENTOR.

Z0 Wan/6M Dal/13y,

patented Aug. 6, 1940 t v Sir-iii h ,TENT OFFICE- BOWLING BALL Frank M. Darby, Chicago, 111.

Application March 16, 1940, Serial No. 324,273

Claims. (01. 273--63) My invention relates toplaying balls and parfor a short distance. The lower end of the tube ticularly to bowling balls of the type adapted for is closed by a transverse Well having an p use in playing ten pins. ing to receive the shank of a screw I8. Means Balls of this character are provided with two u h as the W h r n p n 9 y e emplo .5 or more i l Openings, one for th th b Zi for anchoring the screw against longitudinal 5 one, or in some cases two, for the fingers. While movement, but permitting its I'0tati0n- A e little attention is paid to the size of the openings ed portion 20 of the screw engages a threaded for the fingers, the diameter of the opening for .nut 28 perma t y d in the narrow portion the thumb is of great importance. The fit should i i O the Op t Will be seen that y rotating 10 be such that the thumb may move smoothly in the Screw the Sleeve y e v d p dOW-h' 10 and out; that is to say, exactly the right frica de e tional resistance should be provided and this can The space nte v between the portions be changed by very slight variations in the effec- 3 0 e Opening is inclined, as indicated tiv'e diameter of the thumb hole, at 2 2, and the upper end of the sleeve is flared,

This required accuracy of fit results in diffi as at to correspond to the incline of the culties in use, due to expansion and contraction Wall. Thus the Sleeve is forced d w wa d y of the solid material of the ball, the humidity actu e sc e e fect v diame er of of the surrounding air, as reflected in perspirahe pe ng W e e it engages the c e O th tion, and other features, all of which makes it thumb may be lessened to a desired extent. In

desirable to provide for relatively slight varias- 1 a d 2 e S ee is s W at i s pI-e 90 tions in the effective diameter of the opening. limit; that is at the po n f greatest d e 0f v To that end I have provided very simple means the Sleeve. adapted for operation by a flat tool, such as a In the construction of Fig. 2 the screw 20 screw driver, whereby adjustments may be efect y g e a t aded pe n e fected within the space of a few seconds in order material of the balLrather than a nut seated 25 to compensate for changes in the described conin the body of the ball. ditions. I In the construction of Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the The mechanism adapted to function in the deslots is are arranged radially of the sleeve. As scribed manner is illustrated in the accompanyshown in Fig. 4 I may prefer to arrange the slots ing drawing; in which, 7 led at a tangent and to round the inner corners,

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary sectional view through. thereby lessening possible damage to the skin on a bowling ball, showing my improvement applied the knuckle of the user.

thereto; Apparatus such as described is entirely con- Fig. 2 is a similar view in elevation; cealed within the body of the ball and thus Fig. 3 is an upper end view of the sleeve shown cannot be damaged in use. By the use of sleeves 35 in Figs. 1 and 2; and, I of different diameters a wide range of thumb- Fig. 4 is a similar view of a sleeve having slots hole diameters may be provided, thus enabling arranged in a slightly different manner. the manufacturer to provide all balls with a A bowling ball is indicated at it, usually cornstandard size opening. However, the most im- 40 posed of a hard and dense composition material. portant advantage is to theuser, who may vary 46 A radial opening is bored in the ball, the openthe size of the thumb-hole as occasion requires. ing, as shown in Fig. 1 having three diameters It is obvious the same result may be secured ll, I2, and 13. In the outer portion is of the by boring the ball opening of uniform diameter opening I seat a thimble l6, preferably located from end to end, then fixing therein a unit having permanently in place, since the size of the outer the sleeve and inclined surfaces for varying the portion of the thumb hole is not of great irndiameter of the sleeve in the manner described. portance. It will be understood, of course, that This and other modifications are considered to be the effective size ofthis portion may be varied within the scope of my invention. by replacing the thimble with one of a different I l i 50 size. 1. A bowling ball having a radially arranged 50 Y The in erme ia portion I 2 of h p n opening, the diameter of the inner portion oi ceives a sleeve or tube is, composed of somewhat the opening being less than that of the outer resilient mater a the pp pertien Of which is portion, the portions of different diameters being pr vi w h numerous li is e n n T njoined by an inclined area, a slitted sleeve in M gitudinally inward from the open end of the tube the smaller portion of the opening and having a tapered portion engaging said inclined area, and means for positively moving said sleeve axially of the opening whereby to vary the diameter of the sleeve, due to sliding cooperation between the inclined surfaces on the sleeve and the ball.

2. A bowling ball having a radially arranged opening, the diameter of the inner portion of the opening being less than that of the outer portion, the portions of different diameters being joined by an inclined area, a slitted sleeve in the smaller portion of the opening and having a tapered portion engaging said inclined area, a thimble fixed in the outer end of the outer portion of the opening, and means for positively moving said sleeve axially of the opening whereby to vary the diameter of the sleeve, due to sliding cooperation between the inclined surfaces on the sleeve and the ball.

3. A bowling ball having an opening of larger diameter at its outer end than intended for use, and an inner portion of smaller diameter than the outer portion and also larger than intended for use, the two diameters being joined by an inclined portion, a slitted resilient sleeve seated inthe inner portion of the opening and having a tapered portion for engagement with said inclined portion, screw means operating at the inner extremity of the opening for effecting axial movement of the sleeve and consequent expansion and contraction of the efiective diameter of the sleeve.

4. A bowling ball having an opening of larger diameter at its outer end than intended for use. and an inner portion of smaller diameter than the outer portion and also larger than intended for use, the two diameters being joined by an inclined portion, a slitted, resilient sleeve seated in the inner portion of the opening and having a tapered portion for engagement with said inclined portion, screw means for operating at the inner extremity of the opening for effecting axial movement of the sleeve andv consequent expansion and contraction of the efiective diameter 01 the sleeve, and a thimble for contracting the diameter of the outer portion of the opening.

5. A bowling ball having an opening of larger diameter at its outer end than intended for use,

and aninner portion of smaller diameter than the outer portion and also larger than intended for use, the two diameters being joined by an inclined portion, a slitted, resilient sleeve seated in the inner portion of the opening and having a tapered portion for engagement with said inclined portion, screw means operating at the inner extremity of the opening for effecting axial movement of the sleeve and consequent expansion and contraction of the effective diameter of the sleeve, and a thimble independent of the sleeve and fixed in the outer portion of the opening, and immovable relative to the movement of the sleeve.

' FRANK M. DARBY.