Bowling practice device

Abstract

A bowling practice device .Iadd.(1) .Iaddend.having a ramp .Iadd.(2) .Iaddend.with a concave upwardly sloping inclined surface and a pad .Iadd.(5) .Iaddend.located at the top of the ramp .Iadd.(2) .Iaddend.for stopping forward motion of a bowling ball .Iadd.(32), .Iaddend.and causing the ball .Iadd.(32) .Iaddend.to roll in a reverse direction down the ramp .Iadd.(2) .Iaddend.and toward a bowler. Means .Iadd.(10,11,12) .Iaddend.are also provided for supporting the ramp .Iadd.(2) .Iaddend.in a free-standing manner on a horizontal surface and for preventing movement of the ramp .Iadd.(2) .Iaddend.relative to the surface upon an impact by the ball .Iadd.(32).Iaddend..

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A bowling practice device comprising: means forming an inclined ramp for receiving a rolling bowling ball delivered by a bowler, said ramp having a lower forward edge, a pair of spaced side edges and an upper edge and a generally upwardly sloping inclined surface extending from said lower forward edge to said upper edge, the lower half of said inclined surface being generally concave in that it is curved symmetrically upwardly from its midpoint toward each of said side edges along substantially its entire length and curved upwardly from said lower forward edge toward said upper edge with respect to at least the lower half thereof for centering a ball striking the device between said side edges; and   means forming a pad at said upper edge of said inclined surface for stopping the forward motion of said ball, and causing said ball to roll in a reverse direction down said ramp toward said bowler.   
     
     
       2. A device according to claim 1 further comprising: means for supporting said ramp and pad in a free-standing manner on a horizontal surface; and   means for preventing movement of said device relative to said horizontal surface when a ball impacts said ramp and pad.   
     
     
       3. A device according to claim 2 wherein said supporting means comprises a pair of spaced side members, said spaced side members extending rearwardly from the vicinity of said side edges; means for holding said side members in a fixed position relative to each other and said ramp when the device is in use, said device having a base portion and wherein said means for preventing movement of said device relative to said horizontal surface comprises means extending from said base portion for engaging said horizontal surface. 
     
     
       4. A device according to claim 3 wherein said spaced side members comprise wall members, said base portion comprises means extending horizontally between said wall members and said horizontal surface engaging means comprises a plurality of elongated parallel members extending downwardly from said horizontally extending means of said base portion. 
     
     
       5. A device according to claim 1 comprising means forming an upstanding rib member extending from each of said side edges for preventing undesired lateral movement of a ball over said side edges. 
     
     
       6. A device according to claim 1 further comprising a top portion and means for attaching said pad on said top portion. 
     
     
       7. A device according to claim 6 wherein said attaching means comprises a female engaging means disposed in said top portion and a male engaging means extending from said pad for engaging said female engaging means. 
     
     
       8. A device according to claim 7 wherein said male engaging means is a T-shaped member and said female engaging means is a T-shaped channel. .Iadd. 9. A bowling practice device comprising means for receiving a rolling bowling ball, said receiving means comprising means having parallel edges for centering said rolling bowling ball with respect to the longitudinal axis of said receiving means and means forming an upwardly inclined curved surface for reducing the forward velocity of the ball and returning the ball to the roller thereof. .Iaddend..Iadd. 10. A bowling practice device according to claim 9 wherein said receiving means comprises a lower forward edge and an upper edge and said upwardly inclined curved surface is curved upwardly from said lower forward edge toward said upper edge with respect to at least the lower part thereof and said parallel edges extend substantially the entire length of said receiving means between said lower and said upper edges for centering said ball with respect to the longitudinal axis of said receiving means anytime the ball moves away from said longitudinal axis after impacting said receiving means. .Iaddend..Iadd. 11. A bowling practice device according to claim 9 wherein said centering means comprises a curved surface which slopes upwardly from the longitudinal axis of said receiving means. .Iaddend..Iadd. 12. A bowling practice device according to claim 9 wherein said centering means comprises means for directing a bowling ball moving laterally from the longitudinal axis of said receiving means toward said longitudinal axis anytime the ball is moved away from said longitudinal axis after impacting said receiving means. .Iaddend..Iadd. 13. A method of making an apparatus for practicing bowling comprising the steps of: forming a bowling ball receiving means comprising an upwardly inclined curved ball receiving surface for reducing the forward velocity of a bowling ball rolled onto said surface; and   providing means having parallel edges for deflecting a ball moving laterally from said ball receiving surface toward said ball receiving surface. .Iaddend..Iadd. 14. A method according to claim 13 comprising the step of providing a surface which curves symmetrically upwardly from the longitudinal axis of said ball receiving surface for centering a ball relative to the longitudinal axis of said ball receiving surface. .Iaddend..Iadd. 15. A method according to claim 13 wherein said step of deflecting a ball moving laterally from said ball receiving surface toward said ball receiving surface comprises the step of providing a vertically extending wall member outside of the laeral edges of said ball receiving surface. .Iaddend..Iadd. 16. A method of making an apparatus for practicing bowling comprising the steps of:   providing a bowling ball receiving surface which is upwardly inclined and curved over substantially its entire length for reducing the forward velocity of a bowling ball rolled onto said surface;   providing means for centering a bowling ball on said ball receiving surface so that a ball, rolled onto said surface, will be returned by gravity to the roller thereof along a line collinear to the longitudinal axis of said ball receiving surface; and   providing means having parallel edges for deflecting a ball moving laterally from said ball receiving surface toward said ball receiving surface. .Iaddend..Iadd. 17. A method according to claim 16 wherein said step of providing means having parallel edges for deflecting a ball toward said ball receiving surface comprises the step of providing a vertically extending wall member adjacent to the lateral edges of said ball receiving surface. .Iaddend.