Bowling balls and methods of forming the same

Abstract

A bowling ball with selected performance characteristics can include an inner core, an outer core and a cover stock layer. The inner core can be configured with a first zone that can extend substantially along a first axis defined through the inner core; a second zone that can be located between the first axis and a second axis that extends substantially perpendicular to the first axis; and a third zone can be located adjacent the second axis. A plurality of finger holes can be formed through the cover stock layer and can be selectively located within at least one of the first, second, or third zone selected based on a target RG value.

1 . A bowling ball, comprising:
 an inner core layer comprising a first zone, a second zone, and a third zone;   an outer core layer at least partially covering the inner core layer;   a cover stock layer surrounding the inner and outer core layers; and   a plurality of finger holes extending through the cover stock layer;   wherein the first zone extends substantially along a Y-axis defined through the inner core and terminates at a distal end that is closer to the cover stock layer than the second zone and the third zone;   wherein the second zone is located between the Y-axis and an X-axis that extends substantially perpendicular to the Y-axis;   wherein the third zone is located adjacent the X-axis and is closer to the cover stock layer than the second zone; and   wherein a location of finger holes formed in the bowling ball within at least one of the first, second, or third zone of the inner core layer can be selected based on a target RG value;   wherein the location of the finger holes within one or more of the first, second, or third zones can be selected to provide the bowling ball with one or more prescribed properties or characteristics, the inner core layer.   
     
     
         2 . The bowling ball of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of finger holes comprises a pair of finger holes, and wherein the pair of finger holes are configured to extend from a proximal end located along the cover stock layer through the cover stock layer and into at least a portion of the inner core and, based on at the target RG value, terminate at a distal end selectively located within at least one of the first, second, or third zones of the inner core layer to achieve a desired change in the shape and/or configuration of the inner core layer. 
     
     
         3 . The bowling ball of  claim 1 , wherein the inner core defines a Z-axis that is in a common plane with the X-axis and extends substantially perpendicular to the X-axis, and wherein the inner core is configured so that the Y-axis is a minimum RG axis, the X-axis is a maximum RG axis, and the Z-axis is an intermediate RG axis. 
     
     
         4 . The bowling ball of  claim 3 , wherein the second zone is at least partially circumscribed about the first zone. 
     
     
         5 . The cowling ball of  claim 3 , wherein the third zone is at least partially circumscribed about the second zone. 
     
     
         6 . The bowling ball of  claim 1 , wherein the inner core layer comprises a high-density liquid curable material. 
     
     
         7 . The bowling ball of  claim 1 , wherein the inner core layer comprises a plurality of sections/elements. 
     
     
         8 . The bowling ball of  claim 7 , wherein, the inner core layer comprises an inner core body that is asymmetric or symmetric with respect to one or more axes of the bowling ball. 
     
     
         9 . The bowling ball of  claim 1 , wherein the outer core layer surrounds and supports the inner core layer, and wherein the inner core layer can be selectively positioned or oriented within the outer core layer to provide desired performance and/or tracking characteristics of the bowling ball. 
     
     
         10 . The bowling ball of  claim 1 , wherein the first and third zones are configured to be concentric to each other and equidistant from the cover stock layer. 
     
     
         11 . The bowling ball of  claim 1 , wherein the first and third zones are configured to be concentric and equidistant from the cover stock layer, and wherein the respective first and third zones terminating at respective distal ends that have a substantially equal proximity to the cover stock layer. 
     
     
         12 . The bowling ball of  claim 1 , wherein the second zone defines at least one bowl or recess formed in the inner core layer that extends at least partially around the first zone. 
     
     
         13 . The bowling ball of  claim 12 , wherein each recess extends inwardly and downwardly from an outer surface of the inner core layer and has a recess axis that is positioned at an acute angle with respect the Y-axis. 
     
     
         14 . A bowling ball, comprising:
 an inner core layer comprising a first zone, a second zone, and a third zone;   a cover stock layer comprising a liquid curable material received about the inner core layer; and   wherein the first zone extends substantially along a Y-axis defined through the inner core layer and terminates at a distal end that is closer to the cover stock layer than the second zone and the third zone;   wherein the second zone is located between the Y-axis and an X-axis that extends substantially perpendicular to the Y-axis;   wherein the third zone is located adjacent the X-axis and is closer to the cover stock layer than the second zone; and   wherein the respective first, second, and third zones of the inner core layer are shaped and configured to provide the bowling ball with one or more prescribed mass properties or characteristics.   
     
     
         15 . The bowling ball of  claim 14 , wherein the one or more prescribed mass properties of the bowling ball are symmetric in design. 
     
     
         16 . The bowling ball of  claim 14 , wherein the one or more prescribed mass properties of the bowling ball are asymmetric in design. 
     
     
         17 . The bowling ball of  claim 14 , further comprising an outer core layer at least partially covering the inner core layer. 
     
     
         18 . A method of designing a bowling ball, comprising:
 configuring the bowling ball with an inner core layer with a first zone in proximity to a Y-axis of the bowling ball, a second zone extending between the Y-axis and an X-axis of the bowling ball, and a third zone projecting toward a shell of the bowling ball in the direction of the X-axis;   configuring the inner core layer such that a mass change resulting from drilling finger holes in the first zone and the second zone affects a height and a width of the inner core layer, respectively, to maintain post-drilled RG targets that are similar to an RG of an undrilled bowling ball; and   configuring the inner core layer such that the finger holes intersect with the inner core layer in strategic locations that affect performance characteristics of the bowling ball, as measured by a total differential, an intermediate differential, or a combination thereof.   
     
     
         19 . A method of manufacturing a bowling ball for customizing performance, comprising:
 forming an inner core layer with three distinct zones, including a first zone in proximity to a Y-axis of the bowling ball core, a second zone extending between the Y-axis and an X-of the bowling ball core, and a third zone projecting toward a shell of a bowling ball including the inner core layer in the direction of the X-axis; and   drilling finger holes into the bowling ball at strategic locations that intersect with the inner core layer, wherein the strategic locations are selected to determine selected performance characteristics of the bowling ball, as measured by a total differential and/or an intermediate differential.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein a mass change resulting from the drilling the finger holes in the first zone and the third zone affects a height and a width of the inner core layer, respectively, and causes a mass change in the second zone sufficient to maintain post-drilled RG targets that are statistically similar to an undrilled bowling ball.