Bowling ball angulator and methods of use

Abstract

A device for locating bowling ball gripping apertures with respect to a bowling ball weight block angle inherent to that particular bowling ball and the track of a particular bowler is disclosed herein. One embodiment of the device includes a curved base portion adapted to substantially rest on a curved surface of a bowling ball. Degree indicators are located on the perimeter of the base portion, and a hole is located in the center of the base portion. A curved angle indicator arm is connected with and extends from the curved base portion. The angle indicator arm also includes length measurement indicators. The present invention further provides methods for laying out the placement of gripping holes on an undrilled bowling ball relative to a desired weight block angle and pin to positive access point distance for a particular bowler's track.

1 . A device for laying out a bowling ball, said device comprising: 
 a semi-spherical base portion having a center adapted to substantially rest on a curved surface of the bowling ball, a perimeter of said base portion including degree indicators; and    a curved arm connected with and extending from said base portion and adapted to substantially rest on the curved surface of the bowling ball, said curved arm including length measurement indicators; and    whereby said center contacts the curved surface of the bowling ball and said curved arm extends along the curved surface of the bowling ball when laying out the bowling ball.    
   
   
       2 . The device in  claim 1 , wherein said curved arm is formed integrally with said base portion.  
   
   
       3 . The device in  claim 1 , wherein said curved arm defines an arc of at least 90 degrees.  
   
   
       4 . The device in  claim 1 , wherein said curved arm is constructed of a flexible material.  
   
   
       5 . The device in  claim 1 , wherein an edge of said curved arm is aligned with the center of said base portion.  
   
   
       6 . The device in  claim 1 , wherein said base portion has a partially spherical shape.  
   
   
       7 . The device in  claim 1 , wherein said base portion includes at least one length measurement line.  
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein said at least one length measurement line is offset from said curved arm by 90 degrees.  
   
   
       9 . A device for laying out a bowling ball, said device comprising: 
 a semi-spherical base portion adapted to substantially rest on a curved surface of the bowling ball, said base portion defined by a solid perimeter portion including degree indicators, a substantially open middle portion, and a center portion, including a center aperture, joined with said perimeter portion;    a curved arm connected with and extending from said center portion of said semi-spherical base portion and adapted to substantially rest on the curved surface of the bowling ball, said arm including length measurement indicators; and    whereby said semi-spherical base portion contacts a curved surface of the bowling ball and said curved arm extends along the curved surface of the bowling ball when laying out the bowling ball.    
   
   
       10 . The device in  claim 9 , wherein said curved arm is integral to said base portion.  
   
   
       11 . The device in  claim 9 , wherein said curved arm defines an arc of at least 90 degrees.  
   
   
       12 . The device in  claim 9 , wherein said curved arm is constructed of a flexible material.  
   
   
       13 . The device in  claim 9 , wherein an edge of said curved arm is aligned with the center of said center aperture in said center portion.  
   
   
       14 . The device in  claim 9 , wherein said base portion includes at least one length measurement line.  
   
   
       15 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein said at least one length measurement line is offset from said curved arm by 90 degrees.  
   
   
       16 . A device for laying out a bowling ball, said device comprising: 
 a semi-spherical base portion adapted to substantially rest on a curved surface of the bowling ball, the perimeter of said base portion including degree indicators and at least one length measurement line, and the center of said base portion including an aperture;    an arm connected with and extending from said semi-spherical base portion and adapted to substantially rest on the curved surface of the bowling ball, said arm including length measurement indicators; and    whereby said semi-spherical base portion contacts a curved surface of a bowling ball and said arm extends along the curved surface of the bowling ball when laying out the bowling ball.    
   
   
       17 . The device in  claim 16 , wherein said arm is integral with said base portion.  
   
   
       18 . The device in  claim 16 , wherein said arm is not integral to said base portion.  
   
   
       19 . The device in  claim 16 , wherein an edge of said arm is aligned with the center of said aperture in said base portion.  
   
   
       20 . The device in  claim 16 , wherein at least one length measurement line is offset from said arm by 90 degrees.  
   
   
       21 . A method for placing a positive axis point of an undrilled bowling ball, said method comprising the following steps: 
 (a) providing an undrilled bowling ball having an exterior surface with a pin and a center of gravity marked thereon;    (b) providing a block angle and a desired pin distance from the pin to the positive axis point;    (c) aligning on said exterior surface from said pin to said center of gravity;    (d) creating a first mark on said exterior surface offset from said pin and said center of gravity by a number of degrees in said block angle;    (e) creating a line on said exterior surface extending through said pin and said first mark;    (f) measuring from said pin to a point along said line in step (e) that is a distance equal to said desired pin distance; and    (g) marking a location of said point in step (f) on said exterior surface of said bowling ball.    
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said exterior surface includes a mass bias marked thereon and said mass bias is used in place of said center of gravity in steps (c) and (d).  
   
   
       23 . A method of placing a horizontal and vertical coordinate intersection point of a positive axis point on an undrilled bowling ball, said method comprising the following steps: 
 (a) providing an undrilled bowling ball having an exterior surface with a positive axis point marked thereon;    (b) providing a vertical distance from said positive axis point and a desired grip center;    (c) locating a point at a distance equal to said vertical distance from said positive axis point;    (d) aligning said point in step (c) with said desired grip center; and    (e) marking said point in step (d) as the horizontal and vertical coordinate intersection point.