Bowling practice device

#The present invention is related to sporting equipment in general and in particular to a device for practicing bowling.

#Heretofore, a person who desired to learn the game of bowling or to practice and improve certain skills in bowling, such as, for example, the foot movement, the swing, the release and the follow-through, has had to attend a conventional bowling alley. Frequently, the attending of a conventional bowling alley for the purpose of learning or practicing the game of bowling has a number of disadvantages. First, with the ever increasing interest in bowling, the bowling alleys are frequently being used for league bowling and are not readily available for practice bowling. The cost of bowling is also increasing with the ever increasing interest in bowling such that the cost of practicing at conventional bowling alleys is becoming prohibitive. Also, it is not always necessary to knock pins down to learn, practice and improve certain skills in the sport. For these reasons, an apparatus for learning and practicing the sport of bowling at home is desirable and advantageous.

#In U.S. Pat. No. 4,046,376, issued to the applicants on Sept. 6, 1977, there is disclosed and claimed a bowling practice device which has many of the advantages and features desired in these types of devices. It is relatively small in size, light in weight and portable. It can be used in the living room on a living room rug or the like. It intercepts a rolling bowling ball and returns it to the bowler. As described in the patent, the operative surface of the device comprises a ramp with a concave, upwardly sloping inclined surface and a pad located at the top of the ramp for stopping the forward motion of the bowling ball and causing the ball to roll in a reverse direction down the ramp and toward a bowler.

#The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the accompany drawing in which:

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bowling practice apparatus according to the present invention.

#FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of one of the rail and side wall members of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

#Referring to the drawing, and in particular to FIG. 1, there is provided in accordance with the present invention a bowling practice device designated generally as 1. In the bowling practice device 1 there is provided a pair of spaced, curved rail members designated generally as 2 and 3. Each of the rail members 2 and 3 has a forward edge 4 for initially receiving a rolling bowling ball, designated generally as 5 and a curved surface 6 extending rearwardly and upwardly from the forward edge 4 for stopping the forward motion of the ball and providing a return of the ball to the bowler. Located outside each of the rail members 2 and 3 there is provided a pair of side wall members designated generally as 7 and 8. The side wall members 7 and 8 have a forward edge 9 and a curved surface 10 extending rearwardly and upwardly from the forward edge 9 for directing a ball rolled thereagainst inwardly toward the rail members 2 and 3.

#For supporting the rail members 2 and 3 and the side wall members 7 and 8 there is provided a plurality of supporting cross members 12, 13 and 14. The cross members 12, 13 and 14 are provided for supporting the rail members 2 and 3 and the side wall members 7 and 8 in a predetermined space relationship. One of the important features of the present invention is that by using the cross members 12, 13 and 14, it is possible to construct the apparatus of the present invention using identical interchangeable members for the rail members 2 and 3 and the side wall members 7 and 8.

#Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown in side elevation one of the rail members 2 and 3 and side wall members 7 and 8. Because the rail members 2 and 3 and the side wall members 7 and 8 are identical, only one of the members--namely, rail member 2--is described.