Support cradle for bowling balls

Abstract

The present invention relates to a support cradle ( 1 ) for bowling balls ( 3 ). Such a support cradle comprises a support surface ( 2 ) adapted to a bowling ball and carried by a frame ( 4 ). The support cradle also comprises a bottom cup ( 7 ) disposed to join the support surface substantially tightly. The support surface adopts a shape that substantially corresponds to the geometry of the spherical surface ( 8 ) of the bowling ball ( 3 ). In this connection, the support surface and the bowling ball fitted on this are disposed to form together a substantially tight joint. The support cradle also comprises a connection ( 9 ) for compressed fluid for introducing said compressed fluid through the connection in the support cradle, the compressed fluid introduced in the support cradle ( 1 ) forming a compressed-fluid cushion between the support surface and the bowling ball. In this manner, the bowling ball is allowed to turn in any direction virtually frictionless.

1 . A support cradle for bowling balls, the support cradle comprising a support surface adapted to maintain a bowling ball in stable position,
 the support surface being carried by a frame, and   the support cradle comprising additionally a connection for a compressed fluid for introducing said compressed fluid through the connection in the support cradle, and that the compressed fluid introduced in the support cradle is disposed to form a compressed-fluid cushion between the support surface and the bowling ball, thus allowing the bowling ball to turn virtually frictionless in any direction,   
       wherein
 the support cradle comprises a bottom cup disposed to join the support surface substantially tightly, 
 the support surface being shaped as a spherical belt, and that 
 the spherical belt of the support surface adopts a shape that substantially corresponds to the geometry of the spherical surface of the bowling ball, so that the support surface and the bowling ball fitted on this are disposed to form together a substantially impervious joint, the bottom cup being lowered relative to the spherical belt of the support surface, so that the connection is placed within the lowered bottom cup to allow the bowling ball to turn by means of a momentary regulation of the compressed-fluid flow. 
 
     
     
         2 . A support cradle as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the bottom cup has a substantially spherical shape,
 the bottom cup comprised in the support cradle and the support surface jointly forming a substantially uniform hemisphere.   
     
     
         3 . A support cradle as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the bottom cup is lowered relative to the spherical belt of the support surface by 1 to 5 mm. 
     
     
         4 . A support cradle as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the compressed fluid comprises compressed air. 
     
     
         5 . A support cradle as defined in  claim 4 , compressed-fluid connection is connected to a stationary compressed-air network. 
     
     
         6 . A support cradle as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the compressed fluid comprises water. 
     
     
         7 . A support cradle as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the compressed-fluid connection is connected to a pressurised water distribution network. 
     
     
         8 . A support cradle as defined in  claim 1  wherein the support cradle comprises a ring disposed to seal outside the support surface against the surface of the bowling ball fitted on the support cradle
 said ring being disposed together with the frame of the support cradle to form an annular conduit around the support cradle, 
 the conduit comprising means for connecting it to a dust exhaustion device to extract dust, which is blown out under the bowling ball. 
 
     
     
         9 . A support cradle as defined in  claim 8 , wherein an edge comprised in the ring and oriented towards the surface of the bowling ball comprises an annular brush. 
     
     
         10 . A support cradle as defined in  claim 8 , wherein the ring comprises a separate part connected to the frame of the support cradle. 
     
     
         11 . A support cradle as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the spherical belt of the support surface has a height such that the curvature length it defines in the spherical belt exceeds the maximum diameter of the grip holes provided in the bowling ball.