Bowling balls and methods of forming the same
OwnerRandy Teitloff, Bryan Buckosh +2inventors
InventorsRandy Teitloff, Bryan Buckosh, Aaron Koch, Richard Hanson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A bowling ball with selected performance characteristics can include an inner core, an outer core and a cover stock layer. The inner core can be configured with a first zone that can extend substantially along a first axis defined through the inner core; a second zone that can be located between the first axis and a second axis that extends substantially perpendicular to the first axis; and a third zone can be located adjacent the second axis. A plurality of finger holes can be formed through the cover stock layer and can be selectively located within at least one of the first, second, or third zone selected based on a target RG value.
Claims20
A bowling ball, comprising:
- an inner core layer comprising a first zone, a second zone, and a third zone;
- an outer core layer at least partially covering the inner core layer;
- a cover stock layer surrounding the inner and outer core layers;
- and
- a plurality of finger holes extending through the cover stock layer;
- wherein the first zone extends substantially along a Y-axis defined through the inner core and terminates at a distal end that is closer to the cover stock layer than the second zone and the third zone;
- wherein the second zone is located between the Y-axis and an X-axis that extends substantially perpendicular to the Y-axis;
- wherein the third zone is located adjacent the X-axis and is closer to the cover stock layer than the second zone;
- and
- wherein a location of finger holes formed in the bowling ball within at least one of the first, second, or third zone of the inner core layer can be selected based on a target RG value;
- wherein the location of the finger holes within one or more of the first, second, or third zones can be selected to provide the bowling ball with one or more prescribed properties or characteristics, the inner core layer.
A bowling ball, comprising:
- an inner core layer comprising a first zone, a second zone, and a third zone;
- a cover stock layer comprising a liquid curable material received about the inner core layer;
- and
- wherein the first zone extends substantially along a Y-axis defined through the inner core layer and terminates at a distal end that is closer to the cover stock layer than the second zone and the third zone;
- wherein the second zone is located between the Y-axis and an X-axis that extends substantially perpendicular to the Y-axis;
- wherein the third zone is located adjacent the X-axis and is closer to the cover stock layer than the second zone;
- and
- wherein the respective first, second, and third zones of the inner core layer are shaped and configured to provide the bowling ball with one or more prescribed mass properties or characteristics.
A method of designing a bowling ball, comprising:
- configuring the bowling ball with an inner core layer with a first zone in proximity to a Y-axis of the bowling ball, a second zone extending between the Y-axis and an X-axis of the bowling ball, and a third zone projecting toward a shell of the bowling ball in the direction of the X-axis;
- configuring the inner core layer such that a mass change resulting from drilling finger holes in the first zone and the second zone affects a height and a width of the inner core layer, respectively, to maintain post-drilled RG targets that are similar to an RG of an undrilled bowling ball;
- and
- configuring the inner core layer such that the finger holes intersect with the inner core layer in strategic locations that affect performance characteristics of the bowling ball, as measured by a total differential, an intermediate differential, or a combination thereof.
A method of manufacturing a bowling ball for customizing performance, comprising:
- forming an inner core layer with three distinct zones, including a first zone in proximity to a Y-axis of the bowling ball core, a second zone extending between the Y-axis and an X-of the bowling ball core, and a third zone projecting toward a shell of a bowling ball including the inner core layer in the direction of the X-axis;
- and
- drilling finger holes into the bowling ball at strategic locations that intersect with the inner core layer, wherein the strategic locations are selected to determine selected performance characteristics of the bowling ball, as measured by a total differential and/or an intermediate differential.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.