Curling Delivery Apparatus

Abstract

A delivery apparatus assists a user in delivering a curling rock along a sheet of ice in the sport of curling. The apparatus has a delivery frame that slides along the sheet of ice to push the curling rock forwardly, while enabling the curling rock to be rotated relative to the delivery frame about an upright axis of the curling rock. A handle member is supported by a handle frame that is angularly adjustable relative to the delivery frame so that the handle member is spaced upwardly and rearwardly of the curling rock to allow the user to walk behind the curling rock during delivery.

1 . A curling delivery apparatus for use in delivering a curling rock along a sheet of ice in the sport of curling, the apparatus comprising:
 a delivery frame arranged for translating movement along the sheet of ice in a forward working direction;   two or more contact members supported on the delivery frame so as to be arranged to engage the curling rock when the curling rock is positioned forwardly of the delivery frame, the two or more contact members enabling rotation of the curling rock relative to the delivery frame while providing support to contain the curling rock in a lateral direction oriented transversely to the forward working direction; and   a handle frame extending from the delivery frame to a handle member arranged to be gripped in a hand of a user in which the handle member is positioned upwardly and rearwardly in relation to the two or more contact members.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the two or more contact members are spaced apart from one another in the lateral direction. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein the two or more contact members are spaced apart from one another by a distance which is less than a diameter of the curling rock. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein the two or more contact members are spaced apart from one another by a distance which is greater than a radius of the curling rock. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the two or more contact members are spaced above a bottom side of the delivery frame. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 5  wherein the two or more contact members are aligned with a striking band of the curling rock. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the two or more contact members comprise only two contact members supported at laterally opposing sides of the delivery frame. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein each contact member comprises a roller supported on the delivery frame for rotation about a respective upright roller axis. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the delivery frame comprises a bottom sliding surface at a bottom side of the delivery frame arranged for sliding engagement along the sheet of ice. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 9  wherein the bottom sliding surface has a low coefficient of friction. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 9  wherein the bottom sliding surface is releasably mounted on the delivery frame. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 9  wherein the bottom sliding surface is formed of low friction non-marring material. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 9  wherein the bottom sliding surface comprises a plurality of sliding members supported on the delivery frame so that the bottom sliding surface is wider in the lateral direction than the curling rock. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the handle member extends in the lateral direction of the delivery frame. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the handle frame is angularly adjustable relative to the delivery frame about a handle axis oriented in the lateral direction. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus according to  claim 15  wherein the delivery frame comprises a bottom sliding surface at a bottom side of the delivery frame arranged for sliding engagement along the sheet of ice, wherein at least a portion of the bottom sliding surface is located forwardly of the handle axis, and wherein at least a portion of the bottom sliding surface is located rearwardly of the handle axis. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus according to  claim 15  wherein the handle axis is situated at or below an elevation of the contact members. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the handle frame comprises two arms pivotally coupled to the delivery frame at laterally spaced apart positions, in which the handle member extends between the two arms in the lateral direction. 
     
     
         19 . A method of delivering a curling rock along a sheet of ice in the sport of curling, the method comprising:
 providing a curling delivery apparatus according to  claim 1 ;   rotating the curling rock; and   pushing the rotating curling rock along the sheet of ice using the curling delivery apparatus such that the curling delivery apparatus is engaged upon the sheet of ice and the curling rock continues to rotate in engagement with the curling delivery apparatus.   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19  including pushing the curling delivery apparatus forwardly along the sheet of ice by gripping the handle member of the curling delivery apparatus at a location spaced upwardly and rearwardly from the curling rock.