Bowling ball

Claim 2

A solid bowling ball having a main body of a relatively low density, means forming indicia on the outer surface of said ball at a location which describes the vertical axial centerline of the ball, a top weight underlying said indicia which offsets the loss in weight resulting from the subsequent formation of finger holes; the mass of said top weight being distributed along a weight plane which intersects the geometrical center of the ball, said indicia indicates the location of the center of mass of said top weight and the relative position of said weight plane; the equatorial plane of the ball intersects the geometrical center thereof and is circumscribed equidistant from said indicia and from the center of mass of said top weight; all of said top weight being located above said equatorial plane and being divided into two major spaced apart masses with each of the spaced apart masses lying equidistant from said vertical axis and from said equatorial plane; with most of the top weight being distributed circumferentially about said weight plane as compared to the distribution of said top weight in a direction normal to said weight plane such that when the ball is rolled to describe a rolling plane which is parallel to said weight plane, the top weight produces a gyroscopic effect.

Claim 3

The ball of claim 1 wherein finger holes are formed asymmetrically respective to said weight plane and symmetrically respective to said indicia such that the indicia lies between the two finger holes and the thumb hole, while the weight planes lies 30° to 60° respective to a line which bisects the thumb hole and extends between the finger holes.

Claim 4

The ball of claim 1 wherein said top weight is located respective to each quadrant drawn through the central axis and normal to the equatorial plane such that the weight distribution of the top weight respective to each quadrant of the ball is substantially equal.

Claim 5

The ball of claim 3 wherein said top weight is two spaced apart bodies which are identical in mass.

Claim 6

A solid spherical bowling ball of a relatively low density having a vertical central axis which is perpendicular to and intersects an equatorial plane, and an X and Y plane placed normal to one another which intersect along said vertical central axis and which lie normal to said equatorial plane; means forming indicia on said ball which is related to the location and orientation of a thumb and two finger holes which are to be subsequently formed such that the Y plane will bisect the thumb hole and continue equidistant between the finger holes, while the X plane extends along a line drawn equidistant between the thumb hole and the finger holes; a top weight of relatively high density underlying said indicia which offsets the loss in weight resulting from the subsequent formation of the finger and thumb holes; the mass of said top weight being distributed along a weight plane which lies parallel to a plane which bisects the vertical central axis of the ball and which lies angularly disposed from either of said X and Y planes; all of said top weight being located above said equatorial plane and being divided into two major spaced apart masses with each of said spaced apart masses lying equidistant from said vertical axis and from said equatorial plane; most of the mass of said top weight being distributed circumferentially about said weight plane as compared to the weight distribution of said top weight in a direction normal to said weight plane to effect an elongated, narrow, isolated mass which produces a gyroscopic effect when the ball is rolled along a rolling axis situated normal to the weight plane; said indicia being related to the location and orientation of said top weight so that the finger holes can be subsequently formed at a location which causes the ball to roll along about an axis normal to said weight plane, thereby effecting said gyroscopic action.

Claim 7

A solid spherical bowling ball of a relatively low density having a vertical central axis which is perpendicular to and intersects an equatorial plane, and an X and Y plane placed normal to one another which intersect along said vertical central axis and which lie normal to said equatorial plane; means forming indicia on said ball which is related to the location and orientation of a thumb and two finger holes which are to be subsequently formed such that the Y plane will bisect the thumb hole and continue equidistant between the finger holes, while the X plane extends along a line drawn equidistant between the thumb hole and the finger holes; a top weight of relatively high density underlying said indicia which offsets the loss in weight resulting from the subsequent formation of the finger and thumb holes; the mass of said top weight being distributed along a weight plane which lies parallel to a plane which bisects the vertical central axis of the ball and which lies angularly disposed from either of said X and Y planes; all of said top weight being located above said equatorial plane and being divided into two major spaced apart masses with each of said spaced apart masses lying equidistant from said vertical axis and from said equatorial plane; most of the mass of said top weight being distributed circumferentially about said weight plane as compared to the weight distribution of said top weight in a direction normal to said weight plane to effect an elongated, narrow, isolated mass which produces a gyroscopic effect when the ball is rolled along a rolling axis situated normal to the weight plane; said indicia being related to the location and orientation of said top weight so that the finger holes can be subsequently formed at a location which causes the ball to roll along about an axis normal to said weight plane, thereby effecting said gyroscopic action.

Claim 8

The ball of claim 5 wherein said top weight is located respective to said X and Y axis such that when finger holes are subsequently formed in the ball, the presence of the top weight produces substantially no variation of weight on either side of the X and Y planes.

Claim 9

The ball of claim 5 wherein said top weight includes two spaced bodies which are identical in mass, with each of said bodies being spaced from and equidistant from the overlying said indicia.

Claim 10

A solid bowling ball having a main body of a relatively low density, finger holes formed into said ball, and a top weight immediately underlying said finger holes which offset the loss in weight resulting from the formation of said finger holes; the mass of said top weight being distributed circumferentially along a first plane which is parallel to another plane lying along the axial vertical centerline of said ball; said top weight being two spaced masses located above the equatorial plane of the ball and adjacent to said finger holes such that the top weight commences and ends with less than 180° of curvature; said two spaced masses being equidistant from said equatorial plane and from said indicia; with the resultant top weight being so elongated and narrow that when rolled, the weight produces a gyroscopic effect; and, means by which said finger holes are oriented respective to said first plane and to said weight to cause said ball to normally assume a rolling plane which is parallel to said first and another plane when rolled by a bowler.

Claim 11

A solid bowling ball having a main body of a relatively low density, finger holes formed into said ball, and a top weight immediately underlying said finger holes which offset the loss in weight resulting from the formation of said finger holes; the mass of said top weight being distributed circumferentially along a first plane which is parallel to another plane lying along the axial vertical centerline of said ball; said top weight being two spaced masses located above the equatorial plane of the ball and adjacent to said finger holes such that the top weight commences and ends with less than 180° of curvature; said two spaced masses being equidistant from said equatorial plane and from said indicia; with the resultant top weight being so elongated and narrow that when rolled, the weight produces a gyroscopic effect; and, means by which said finger holes are oriented respective to said first plane and to said weight to cause said ball to normally assume a rolling plane which is parallel to said first and another plane when rolled by a bowler.

Claim 12

The ball of claim 8 wherein said top weight is located respective to each quadrant drawn through the central axis and normal to the equatorial plane such that the weight distribution of the ball respective to each quadrant is substantially equal.

Claim 13

The ball of claim 8 wherein said top weight is two spaced apart bodies which are identical in mass, and which lie distributed along a weight plane which is normal to the rolling axis of the ball, with most of the mass of the top weight extending circumferentially about said weight plane as compared to the mass distribution of said top weight in a direction normal to said weight plane; said finger holes are formed asymmetrically respective to said weight plane and symmetrically respective to said indicia such that the indicia lies between the two finger holes and the thumb hole, while the weight planes lies 30° to 60° respective to a line which bisects the thumb hole and extends between the finger holes.