US3858839A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for plugging holes in bowling balls
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-05-10
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Granted: 1975-01-07
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Expires: 1993-05-10
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for plugging holes in a bowling ball in which a cover member having an opening and a peripheral lip substantially conforming to the curvature of a bowling ball is adhesively attached to the bowling ball over the hole to be filled. Suitable liquid plugging material is inserted into the hole through the opening in the cover member so as to substantially fill the hole and the cavity defined by the cover member. The opening in the cover member is angularly elongated to prevent leakage of plugging material while maintaining the bowling ball in a position necessary for the plugging of all of the holes therein. After the plugging material has hardened, the cover member and the protuberant portion of the hardened plugging material are removed.
Inventors
- 👤 Grover L Bowman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 11:51
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63B; A63B37/00; A63B37/0001; A63B37/0002
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
225 words
In combination: a bowling ball having a generally spherical outer surface; and a pair of cover members, each cover member having a central portion provided with a curved inner surface and a generally continuous outer peripheral, ball-engaging surface surrounding said central portion, there being an aperture through each cover member spaced from said outer peripheral surface thereof, the distance across each cover member between a pair of spaced locations on said outer peripheral surface thereof being greater than the transverse width of the corresponding finger hole and a number of times less than the diameter of the ball, each cover member being positionable on the ball so that the outer peripheral surface of the cover member is releasably attached to said spherical outer surface in surrounding proximal relationship to a respective one of the finger holes, so that when the ball is oriented with the entrances of the finger holes adjacent to the upper extremity of the ball, the inner surfaces of the cover members will be permitted to extend upwardly and away from the spherical outer surface of the ball to form therewith respective, confined spaces communicating with respective finger holes, whereby a flowable material can be directed through respective apertures and retained within said spaces for filling the finger holes and for plugging the same when the material sets to a hardened condition.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
225 words
In combination: a bowling ball having a generally spherical outer surface; and a pair of cover members, each cover member having a central portion provided with a curved inner surface and a generally continuous outer peripheral, ball-engaging surface surrounding said central portion, there being an aperture through each cover member spaced from said outer peripheral surface thereof, the distance across each cover member between a pair of spaced locations on said outer peripheral surface thereof being greater than the transverse width of the corresponding finger hole and a number of times less than the diameter of the ball, each cover member being positionable on the ball so that the outer peripheral surface of the cover member is releasably attached to said spherical outer surface in surrounding proximal relationship to a respective one of the finger holes, so that when the ball is oriented with the entrances of the finger holes adjacent to the upper extremity of the ball, the inner surfaces of the cover members will be permitted to extend upwardly and away from the spherical outer surface of the ball to form therewith respective, confined spaces communicating with respective finger holes, whereby a flowable material can be directed through respective apertures and retained within said spaces for filling the finger holes and for plugging the same when the material sets to a hardened condition.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein is included a tube rigid to each cover member in surrounding relationship to the aperture and extending outwardly therefrom.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said periphery of each cover member has a curvature conforming substantially to that of said spherical outer surface of the bowling ball, the inner surface being concave and having a curvature greater than that of said outer surface of the bowling ball.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein is provided a layer of adhesive applied to the ball-engaging surface of said outer periphery.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
50 words
A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein is provided a tube integral with each cover member in spaced relationship to said outer periphery and surrounding the respective aperture, the axis of each tube extending at an acute angle with respect to its attachment location with the cover member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
163 words
In combination: a bowling ball having a pair of relatively angularly disposed finger holes, and a unitary bowling ball plugging aid, said plugging aid comprising a cover member having a peripheral portion conforming to the curvature of said ball and attachable to said bowling ball over at least one finger hole, a central portion having a radius of curvature less than that of the radius of curvature of the surface of said ball, said central portion including an aperture adjacent said peripheral portion, and a tube communicating with said aperture, and extending outwardly from said central portion at an acute angle with respect thereto, the degree of angularity of said tube being such as to cause it to be in substantially upright, generally parallel alignment with at least one other such tube on a second of said plugging aids when both said plugging aids are positioned over respective finger holes of the bowling ball to enable the finger holes to be plugged simultaneously.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
163 words
In combination: a bowling ball having a pair of relatively angularly disposed finger holes, and a unitary bowling ball plugging aid, said plugging aid comprising a cover member having a peripheral portion conforming to the curvature of said ball and attachable to said bowling ball over at least one finger hole, a central portion having a radius of curvature less than that of the radius of curvature of the surface of said ball, said central portion including an aperture adjacent said peripheral portion, and a tube communicating with said aperture, and extending outwardly from said central portion at an acute angle with respect thereto, the degree of angularity of said tube being such as to cause it to be in substantially upright, generally parallel alignment with at least one other such tube on a second of said plugging aids when both said plugging aids are positioned over respective finger holes of the bowling ball to enable the finger holes to be plugged simultaneously.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
12 words
The combination of claim 6, wherein said angle is from about 15*-45*.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
10 words
The combination of claim 6, wherein said aid is transparent.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The combination of claim 6, and further provided with a strippable protective sheet extending across said peripheral portion, said sheet being removably attached to the adhesive on said lip portion.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-01-06 | 1978-07-08 | 1979-01-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-01-06 | 1982-07-08 | 1983-01-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-01-06 | 1986-07-08 | 1987-01-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |