US3228123A

US3228123A - Bowling shoe with guide means

Info

Publication number: US3228123A
Application number: US405348A
Authority: US
Inventors: Michael A Iams
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1964-10-21
Filing date: 1964-10-21
Publication date: 1966-01-11
Anticipated expiration: 1983-01-11

Description

Jan. 11, 1966 M. A. IAMS 3,228,123

BOWLING SHOE WITH GUIDE MEANS Filed Oct. 21, 1964 United States Patent 3,228,123 BOWLING SHOE WITH GUIDE MEANS Michael A. Iams, 3605 Terry Ave., Billings, Mont. Filed Oct. 21, 1964, Ser. No. 405,348 1 Claim. (Cl. 362.5)

This invention relates to aids for improving bowling scores, and more particularly to a stance alignment device for bowlers.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a bowling aid which will be secured by gluing it to the external portion of a bowling shoe outsole so as to aid the bowler in aligning himself correctly each time he is ready to bowl a ball down the alley.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a bowling aid which will remain on the bowlers shoe to enable him to make a quick, visual reference to his foot alignment with respect to the flooring of the alley.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a bowling aid which will be in kit form and will have the necessary instructions, cement and the bowling aid preshaped and enclosed within a transparent plastic envelope.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a bowling aid bearing the above objects in mind which is of simple construction, has a minimum number of parts, is inexpensive to manufacture and efficient in operation and use.

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a bowling shoe with guide means comprising the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary side view of the present invention shown in elevation; and

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view showing the invention in packaged kit form.

Referring now more in detail to the drawing, a bowling shoe with guide means is shown to include a strip of flat, hard leather 12 having a concave side 14 which is secured externally to the shoe along the stitched area of the outsole 16. Leather strip 12 is secured to the arcnately curved exterior surface of the outsole 16, and the rearward edge of leather strip 12 is arcuately curved, and the forward edge of said leather strip 12 is at right angles to the straight outside edge of strip 12. Glue provides adhesive means for securing strip 12 to the bowling shoe 18 and thus provides a non-movable means for aligning the left bowling shoe 18 which hereinafter will be described. An amount of excess material 21 is cut off of leather strip 12, leaving a straight edge 22 which may be aligned with one of a plurality crevices 24 between the floor boards 25 of the bowling alley to enable the bowler to visually check and quickly adjust his stance each time he bowls.

In use, glue 20 is placed along the stitched area of outsole 16 on the external inside of the left bowling shoe 18 and also along the concave side of leather strip 12, after which strip 12 is pressed into position. The bowler then slips on the shoe 18, and align-s himself with the bowling alley, assuming his particular bowling stance. The bowler then scribes a line on the top of leather strip 12 which will align with the crevice 24 between floor boards 25 of the bowling alley, and he then cuts off the excess material 21 which will leave a straight edge 22 for alignment with crevice 2-4.

It will be noted that leather strip 12 is placed in the same relative position on the right foot of a lefthand bowler.

In FIGURE 3, .-a kit 26 is shown to include a transparent plastic envelope 28 having a precut leather strip 30. Leather strip 30 has a concave side 32 and a straight edge 34 opposite side 32, and one end is arcuately curved while the other end is at right angles to straight edge 34. A capsule 36 filled with glue, and an instruction sheet may also be supplied within envelope 28 for the reasons heretofore described.

In use, envelope 28 is opened in the well known manner and the contents of kit 26 is removed, and applied to a bowling shoe in the same manner as described for the main embodiment of the present invention.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claim.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

A bowling shoe having an upper and an outsole attached thereto, the improvement comprising a strip of leather material having a concave side edge adapted for attachment to a corresponding arcuately curved exterior surface of the outsole of the left shoe of a bowler, a straight outside edge, a rearward edge being arcuately curved and a forward edge being substantially normal to said straight edge of the outside of said leather strip whereby said straight outside edge will form a guide to be aligned with the longitudinal edges of the alley flooring to properly position the foot of the bowler for delivery of a bowling ball.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS FRANK I. COHEN, Primary Examiner.