Bowling training process and device

• US 4,822,040 A
• Filed: 04/11/1988
• Issued: 04/18/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thomas F. Raditic
• Original Assignee: Thomas F. Raditic
• Inventors: Raditic, Thomas F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Oechsle, Anton O.
• Application Number:
  US07/179,971
• Time in Patent Office: 372 Days
• Field of Search: 273/54 D, 273/184 A, 273/185 R, 434/249
• US Class Current: 473/58
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0046 for bowling
• CPC Class Codes: A63D 2005/042 for indicating the ball path
• CPC Class Codes: A63D 5/00 Accessories for bowling-alleys or table alleys

Abstract

A target sheet for use on a bowling lane and a method of training a bowler. The target sheet comprises pressure-sensitive microscopic capsules adapted to create a visible image when applying pressure thereon. Aligning indicia on one side of the sheet is used to provide reference points to gauge a ball'"'"'s trajectory thereover and to align the sheet with boards on the lane. The second side of the sheet is provided with an adhesive adapted to fix the sheet to a bowling lane. The method involves fixing the sheet to a bowling lane, rolling a ball thereover, and comparing the image formed by the ruptured capsules with the reference points to determine the lane board corresponding to the image.

Claims

1. A target sheet for use on a bowling lane which comprises pressure-sensitive microscopic capsules adapted to create a visible image when applying pressure thereon, said sheet having on one first side aligning means which has two functions, first to gauge a trajectory line of an object passing thereover and also to align said sheet with board numbers on said lane to provide reference points for the ball'"'"'s trajectory, and said sheet having an adhesive on an opposite second side, said second side adapted to fix said sheet to a bowling lane.

2. The sheet of claim 1 wherein said aligning means are lines on said sheet forming columns which substantially correspond in width to the width of each board in said lane.

3. The sheet of claim 1 wherein said sheet contains apertures along one lateral edge thereof, and wherein said first side contains vertically disposed columns having widths substantially the same as the widths of floorboards in said bowling lane, the reverse side having adhesive means for fixing said target sheet to the floor of said bowling lane.

4. The sheet of claim 1 wherein said opposite second side contains a strip-off adhesive strip.

5. A process for improving the accuracy skills of a bowler which comprises placing a pressure-sensitive target on a lane of a bowling alley, fixing said target in place on said alley, providing on said target visible markup for comparing the trajectory of a bowling ball rolled thereover, rolling a bowling ball down the alloy in such a manner that it passes over said pressure-sensitive target thereby substantially permanently recording on said target the ball trajectory, locating the proper visible trajectory image for maximum score, and comparing that same trajectory with the next ball and series of balls thrown.

6. The process of claim 5 wherein said pressure-sensitive target has indicated thereon said visible markings, aligning these markings with floorboards in said bowling alley, rolling a bowling ball thereover, and subsequently comparing the image formed by the ball with said markings to determine thereby the path of the ball rolled thereover.

7. The process of claim 5 wherein said pressure-sensitive target has indicated thereon vertical columns, aligning these columns with floorboards in said bowling alley, and after rolling a bowling ball thereover, comparing the image formed thereby with said vertical columns to determine both the path and the angle of the ball approach which passes thereover.

8. The process of claim 5 wherein said pressure-sensitive target is fixed in place by an adhesive located on the bottom surface of said target.

9. The process of claim 5 wherein said pressure-sensitive target is an encapsulated ink paper wherein capsules therein are broken by the pressure of the ball rolling thereover to form thereon a visible image.

10. A method for training a bowler to improve his or her score which comprises locating the probable path of a ball to be thrown in an alley, placing a target sheet in said path and fixing it in place, providing in said target encapsulated ink means capable of rupturing upon exertion of pressure thereon, providing on the upper surface of said target visible markings, aligning said markings with at least one floorboard on said alley, rolling a bowling ball over said target thereby substantially permanently forming a visible image, and comparing said image with said visible, markings to determine the board corresponding to the image, and gauging the subsequent ball to be thrown by the location of image formed by the first ball.