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US 6,569,025 B1Granted
Bowling ball
OwnerNelson Tylerinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bowling ball having an internal weight whose position along a spin axis is adjustable by operation of a drive means which in turn is operative to rotate a threaded nut sleeve that supports the weight. The rotation is about a threaded, non-rotatable weight shaft that extends along the spin axis. This threadably advances the nut sleeve and the weight along the length of the weight shaft, thereby altering the center of gravity and path of the ball after it is released by the bowler.
Claims10
A bowling ball comprising:
- a sphere having end caps and a central portion defining a hollow interior;
- a threaded weight shaft having a longitudinal shaft axis, the weight shaft being mounted to the end caps to fix the weight shaft against rotation about the shaft axis;
- threaded sleeve means mounted to the fixed weight shaft for threadable movement along the shaft axis upon rotation of the sleeve means;
- a weight means located adjacent the weight shaft;
- bearing means supporting the weight means, the weight means being mounted to the sleeve means and constraining the sleeve means against axial movement relative to the weight means, the bearing means allowing rotation of the sleeve means about the shaft axis independently of the weight means;
- surfaces on the weight means and on the interior of the sphere, and engageable to constrain the weight means from rotating about the shaft axis, while enabling axial movement of the weight means and the sleeve means along the shaft axis upon rotation of the sleeve means about the shaft axis, the direction of the movement corresponding to the direction of rotation of the sleeve means;
- and
- drive means selectively operable to rotate the sleeve means.
5 more elements
A bowling ball according to claim I wherein the drive means comprises a motor located in the hollow interior and forming part of the weight means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.