US20080161120A1

US20080161120A1 - Bowling Training Device

Info

Publication number: US20080161120A1
Application number: US11/618,123
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert Raymond Miller; Dawn Mae Miller
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-12-29
Filing date: 2006-12-29
Publication date: 2008-07-03

Abstract

A training device is disclosed, the device includes a flexible strap that attaches to an article of clothing worn on a lower part of the body and worn by a user over the shoulder thereby maintaining a proper swing and release of a bowling ball.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for maintaining proper bowling posture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a training method and device for bowling and other sports.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a practice device that is adjustable for each user.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a device that is easy to use and transport.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a side view of a person wearing the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows a front view of a person wearing the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows a back view of a person wearing the present invention; and

FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 depicts a bowling harness (100) described by the present invention. The harness (100) comprises a flexible strap (110) worn on or over a user's shoulder, as shown in FIGS. 2-4. The harness (100) helps the user maintain proper posture, more specifically a proper swing and release of a bowling ball. The harness (100) attaches (120) to an article of clothing worn on a lower part of the body. The harness (100) can attach (120) to the clothing by sewing, stitching, pinning, a clip, a rivet, a hook, a button, a snap, a staple, a buckle, hook and loop, such as Velcro®, any combination thereof, or the like. The harness (100) can include at least one adjusting device (140) that is adjustable in a mainly vertical direction to allow any user to use the harness (100).
The strap (110) is flexible and loosely dangles from the harness (100) when not in use. The strap can be made of various flexible materials, for example, but not limited to, elastic, polyester, nylon, leather, cotton, and other equivalent materials. The most preferred material does not substantially stretch in a longitudinal direction. The strap (110) can be of varying widths. For example, the strap (110) can be one and one-half inches wide throughout. Alternatively, the portion of the strap (110) that contacts the user is one inch wide, while the remainder of the strap (110) is one and one-half inches wide. Other strap (110) dimensions can be used.
In another embodiment, the strap (110) encircles the user's shoulder and helps prevent slipping off the shoulder. The strap (110) can be fastened (130) together creating an upper portion that encircles the user's shoulder. The strap (110) can be fastened (130) together by sewing, stitching, pinning, a rivet, a hook, a button, a snap, a staple, a buckle, hook and loop, such as Velcro®, or any combination thereof. The strap (110) can be manufactured in one piece and later fastened (130) together or the strap (110) can be manufactured already fastened (130) together. The harness (100) with the strap (110) fastened (130) can be independently adjusted by a first adjusting device (140) or by a second adjusting device (150).
FIG. 5 shows a training device (200) that includes at least two flexible straps (210 and 220) fastened together (260). The first strap (210) and second strap (220) are flexible and loosely dangle from the training device (200) when not in use. The first strap (210) is adapted to be worn by a user over the shoulder whereas the second strap (220) attaches (230) to an article of clothing worn on a lower part of the body. The first strap (210) and second strap (220) can fasten together (260) by sewing, stitching, pinning, a rivet, a hook, a button, a snap, a staple, a buckle, hook and loop, such as Velcro®, or any combination thereof. The second strap (220) can attach (230) to the article of clothing by sewing, stitching, pinning, a clip, a button, a rivet, a hook, a snap, a staple, a buckle, hook and loop, such as Velcro®, or any combination thereof.
The first strap (210) and second strap (220) can be made of various flexible materials, for example, but not limited to, elastic, polyester, nylon, leather, cotton, and other equivalent materials. The most preferred material does not substantially stretch in a longitudinal direction. In an embodiment, the elasticity of the first strap (210) is greater than the elasticity of the second strap (220). In another embodiment, the width of the second strap (220) is greater than the width of the first strap (210). For example, the second strap (220) can be one and one-half inches wide and the first strap (210) is one inch wide. Other dimensions can easily be used.
The training device (200) can include at least one adjusting device (240 or 250) so as to fit any user. The adjusting device (240 or 250) preferably adjusts in a mainly vertical direction. In an embodiment, the user can separately adjust the first strap (210) with a first adjusting device (240), or the second strap (220) with a second adjusting device (250).
A further object of the present invention provides a method for assisting a bowler with proper posture. The bowler attaches a strap that is adapted to be worn by a user over the shoulder to an article of clothing worn on a lower part of the body, places the strap over shoulder; and delivers the bowling ball. The strap isolates the bowler's shoulder helping to maintain proper posture for the bowler. When not in use, the strap remains flexible and loosely dangles. During bowling, the bowler's posture creates tension by stretching the strap, which, in turn, trains the bowler to maintain a proper alignment between the bowler's back and arm as an aid to proper swing and release of the bowling ball.
Although preferred embodiments of the method and apparatus of the present invention have been illustrated in the accompanying Drawings and described in the foregoing Detailed Description, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications and substitutions without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth and defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. A bowling harness comprising:

a flexible strap adapted to be worn by a user over the shoulder, said strap attaches to an article of clothing worn on a lower part of the body, wherein said strap maintains a proper posture for the user.

2. The harness of claim 1 wherein the part of the strap that contacts the user is narrower than the remainder of the strap.

3. The harness of claim 1 wherein the strap attaches to an article of clothing by sewing, stitching, pinning, a clip, a button, a rivet, a hook, a snap, a staple, a buckle, hook and loop, or any combination thereof.

4. The harness of claim 1 wherein said strap encircles the user's shoulder.

5. The harness of claim 4 wherein said strap is fastened together whereby the portion of said strap above the connection encircles the user's shoulder.

6. The harness of claim 5 wherein the strap is fastened together by sewing, stitching, pinning, a clip, a rivet, a hook, a button, a snap, a staple, a buckle, hook and loop, or any combination thereof.

7. The harness of claim 1 further comprising at least one adjusting device.

8. The harness of claim 1 wherein said strap comprises a material with substantially no inherent stretch in its longitudinal direction.

9. A training device comprising:

a plurality of flexible straps, said first strap being fastened to said second strap, wherein said first strap being adapted to be worn by a user over the shoulder, wherein said second strap attaches to an article of clothing worn on a lower part of the body.

10. The training device of claim 9 wherein said elasticity of said first strap is greater than said elasticity of said second strap.

11. The training device of claim 9 wherein said width of said second strap is greater than said width of said first strap.

12. The training device of claim 9 further comprising at least one adjusting device.

13. The training device of claim 12 wherein said second strap is adjustable.

14. The training device of claim 12 wherein said first strap and second strap are independently adjustable.

15. The training device of claim 9 wherein the strap attaches to an article of clothing by sewing, stitching, pinning, a clip, a button, a rivet, a hook, a snap, a staple, a buckle, hook and loop, or any combination thereof.

16. The training device of claim 9 wherein the straps are fastened together by sewing, stitching, pinning, a rivet, a hook, a button, a snap, a staple, a buckle, hook and loop, or any combination thereof.

17. A method of using a training device, said method comprising the steps of:

attaching said device, said device comprises a strap adapted to be worn by a user over the shoulder and attaches to an article of clothing worn on a lower part of the body;

placing said strap over the shoulder of said user; and

delivering a bowling ball, wherein said strap isolates said shoulder of said user and thereby maintaining the proper bowling posture.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the device comprises the harness as claimed in claim 1.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the device comprises the device as claimed in claim 9.