Bowler's Finger Support

Abstract

A bowler's finger support encloses a middle finger used in the release of the ball and applies a radially inward compressive force substantially to the underside of the finger to resist the hyperextending force produced on release of the ball.

Description

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION [0001] In order for a bowler to have the greatest advantage in his attempt to consistently score the maximum number of pins, the bowling ball is released from one or more of the middle fingers by applying pressure to ball through the bowling ball finger holes in a complex motion known to those skilled in the art as lift. Lift, as known in bowling and as shown for example in U.S. Pat. No. 4,371,163 of Shaffer, means imparting to the ball the two rotary motions of roll and spin. To achieve roll, the ball is made to rotate in a forward and downward direction relative to the horizontal axis along the direction of travel of the ball toward the pins and to achieve spin, the ball is made to rotate with a rotational component about the vertical axis of the ball, as viewed from above a ball thrown with the right hand. It is the spin that causes a desired scattering of the falling pins, increasing the chance for a strike. [0002] As stated above, this complex motion of ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0003] This invention according to its inventive principles, prevents or reduces the amount of physical stress suffered by a bowler is repeatedly lifting the ball at its release, from the force of the ball against the releasing fingers. Bowling is a game of repeated consistent physical motion, designed to use the physical structure of the bowler's hand to apply a force to the ball in a particular intended manner, with the counter forces against the bowler's fingers causing internal damage to the muscles and tendons of the fingers at the areas of most stress, as produced by those counter forces. As the proper release of the ball as explained above, requires the bowler to apply a driving force to the ball at its release, extending the releasing fingers to apply a force through the finger tips while absorbing the ball's counter force against the driving fingers, stress is produced in the tendons and muscles of the releasing fingers, from the palm to the finger tips, causing irritation and damage to the muscles, tendons and their connections to the bone.

[0006] The function of the clamp, as shown according to the disclosed inventive principles, is to apply pressure and a force to the muscles and tendons of the releasing fingers. The force produced on the muscles and tendons, reduces or prevents the counter force of the bowling ball in the hyper extended direction relative to the finger, from stretching the muscles or tendons, or from causing microscopic separation of the tendons from the bones, preserving the bowler's control and the bowlers ability to repeatedly use the releasing fingers to accurately control the ball.

Problems solved by technology

As the proper release of the ball as explained above, requires the bowler to apply a driving force to the ball at its release, extending the releasing fingers to apply a force through the finger tips while absorbing the ball's counter force against the driving fingers, stress is produced in the tendons and muscles of the releasing fingers, from the palm to the finger tips, causing irritation and damage to the muscles, tendons and their connections to the bone.

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