U.S. patent number 3,815,908 [Application Number 05/364,921] was granted by the patent office on 1974-06-11 for bowler's wrist support.
Invention is credited to Yoshio Hashimoto.
United States Patent |
3,815,908 |
Hashimoto |
June 11, 1974 |
BOWLER'S WRIST SUPPORT
Abstract
A bowler's wrist support preventing the wrist from bending
outwardly when the bowler releases the ball comprising a thumb band
portion, a rigid portion and a wrist band portion. The rigid
portion has a core comprising an outer rigid member and an inner
resilient member. Fastening members are placed so that the support
is well positioned over the wrist and the hand irrespective of the
size of the hand or thumb while the band portion leaves the palm of
the hand free from encumbrances.
Inventors: |
Hashimoto; Yoshio (Sama-ku,
Kobe, JA) |
Family
ID: |
23436688 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/364,921 |
Filed: |
May 29, 1973 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/62; 602/64;
2/161.2; 2/160; 128/DIG.15 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B
71/148 (20130101); Y10S 128/15 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A63B
71/14 (20060101); A63B 71/08 (20060101); A63b
071/14 () |
Field of
Search: |
;273/54B,189A ;2/161A
;128/89R,165 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Oechsle; Anton O.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Browdy and Neimark
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A bowler's wrist support preventing the wrist from bending
outwardly when the bowler releases the ball comprising a thumb band
portion, a rigid portion and a wrist band portion, the back and
front of the support being defined by the back and front surfaces,
respectively, of said thumb band portion, rigid portion and wrist
band portion, said thumb band portion having a free end portion and
an adjacent end portion, said adjacent end portion being joined to
one edge of said rigid portion, said wrist band portion having a
free end portion and a second portion, said second portion being
joined to the opposite edge of said rigid portion; said thumb band
portion having fastening members located on the back surface of
said free end portion and the front surface of said adjacent end
portion thereof; said rigid portion comprising a core enclosed
between said front and back surfaces thereof, said core comprising
an outer rigid member and an inner resilient member; a fastening
member located on the front surface of the upper end of said rigid
portion; and said wrist band portion having fastening members
located on the back surface of said free end portion and on the
front and back surfaces of said second end portion thereof.
2. The bowler's wrist support according to claim 1 wherein said
outer rigid member of said core has a length ranging from 5 to 18
cm. and a width ranging from 3 to 7 cm.
3. The bowler's wrist support according to claim 1 wherein said
outer rigid member in said core is curved both in the direction of
length and in the direction of width.
4. The bowler's wrist support according to claim 3 wherein said
outer rigid member has a radius of curvature in the longitudinal
direction ranging from 250 to 3,000 mm. and a radius of curvature
in the lateral direction ranging from 30 to 1,000 mm.
5. The bowler's wrist support according to claim 1 wherein the
dimension corresponding to the shortest line that can be drawn
between a point on the line passing through the center point of
said fastening member of said rigid portion and perpendicular to
the line bisecting in a lengthwise direction said outer rigid
member of said core, and the point corresponding to the top of the
junction of said rigid portion with said wrist band portion, ranges
from 3 to 6 cm.; wherein the length of the junction between said
rigid portion and said wrist band portion ranges from 4 to 7 cm.,
and wherein the dimension corresponding to the shortest line drawn
from any point on the line bisecting in a lengthwise direction said
outer rigid member of said core and a point on the junction of said
rigid portion with said wrist band portion ranges from 7 to 12
cm.
6. The bowler's wrist support according to claim 1 wherein the
dimension corresponding to the shortest line that can be drawn from
a point at the top of said rigid portion along the long axis of
said outer rigid member to a point corresponding to the center
point of said fastening member on said rigid portion ranges from
1.5 to 7 cm.
7. The bowler's wrist support according to claim 1 wherein the
dimension corresponding to the line running from the bottom
junction of said rigid portion with said wrist band portion and
terminating at a point corresponding to the bottom of said rigid
portion, ranges from 0.5 to 8 cm.
8. The bowler's wrist support according to claim 1 wherein the
acute angle formed by the junction of the line drawn thru the
center points of said fastening members of said thumb band portion
and the line drawn thru the center point of said fastening member
of said rigid portion and the center point of said fastening member
located on the front surface of said thumb band portion, ranges
from 45.degree. to 85.degree. .
9. The bowler's wrist support according to claim 1 wherein each of
said fastening members is Velcro.
10. The bowler's wrist support according to claim 1 wherein said
thumb band portion, said rigid portion and said wrist band portion
are initially integral to one another.
11. The bowler's wrist support according to claim 1 wherein said
thumb band portion, said rigid portion and said wrist band portion
are joined to one another into a single structure.
12. The bowler's wrist support according to claim 1, wherein said
thumb band portion, said rigid portion and said wrist band portion
are joined to one another at given positions into a single
structure.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to bowler's wrist supports and, more
particularly, to a bowler's wrist support to be fitted on the
bowler's wrist in order to prevent the wrist from bending outwardly
when the bowler releases his ball.
Balls employed in bowling matches are quite heavy, so that the
wrist of the hand holding a ball is often bent outwardly when
releasing the ball. If the ball is thrown with the wrist bent
outwardly, it is impossible to impart a spinning action to the ball
and the resultant throw is nothing other than a so-called haul,
which is not effective in creating pin action. Accordingly, a wrist
support which permits the bowler to hold and release a ball
properly, without the possibility of causing the wrist to be bent
outward, has heretofore been desired.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
There are wrist support bands that have been proposed to meet this
need. FIG. 1 shows a typical structure of the prior art wrist
support band. It consists of a rigid portion A reinforced with a
rigid plate, flexible portions B, and a thumb insertion hole 1. In
use, it is fitted on the wrist by inserting the thumb through the
thumb insertion hole 1 and winding the band portions B around the
wrist with the rigid portion A placed on the outer side of the
wrist. This wrist support band extant in the prior art is fairly
effective in preventing the wrist from bending outward since a
rigid plate is contained as a core member within the rigid portion
A. However, it has some shortcomings. First, since the thumb
insertion hole is pre-formed, this is often incompatible with the
various sizes of bowlers' hands and the various thicknesses and
lengths of bowlers' thumbs. Since bowling is played by all ages
from children to adults, male or female, and the size of the hand
varies with individual bowlers, in many cases the rigid portion A
cannot be placed well on the outer side of the wrist. In such
cases, the intended use cannot be fully achieved. Second, while
holding the ball it is not desirable for the palm to be covered
with bands or the like, yet it is desirable to wind the band around
the wrist as many turns as possible in order to secure the wrist
support band. But if the wrist is wound with the band portion of
the prior art wrist support band, two or three turns, a majority of
the palm is covered, so that handling the ball becomes very
difficult. On the other hand, winding the band only one turn is
insufficient to secure the wrist support band. Third, as the band
is wound, after the insertion of the thumb into the thumb
insertion, it does not closely fit the hand but becomes loose at
the stem of the thumb (indicated at 2 in FIG. 1). This is very
inconvenient for holding and throwing the ball. Fourth, it is
desirable for the rigid portion A to extend not only over the wrist
but also over the back of the hand to promote the effect of
preventing the bending of the wrist, this cannot be achieved with
the prior art wrist support band. If the rigid portion A is
increased such that it extends over the back hand, the palm is
wholly covered by the band portion B. In such a case, the ball
cannot be smoothly held and thrown.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is desirable that the above shortcomings inherent
in the prior art wrist support be overcome with a novel wrist
support means.
An object of the present invention is to provide a wrist support
means which can meet the above need.
Another object of the invention is to provide a bowler's wrist
support, which permits the rigid portion to be well positioned over
the wrist and the back of the hand irrespective of the size of the
thumb or hand.
A further object of the invention is to provide a bowler's wrist
support, which can be closely fitted on the wrist without any
loosening at the stem of the thumb.
A still further object of the invention is to provide a bowler's
wrist support, whose rigid portion can extend not only over the
wrist but also over the back of the hand, and nevertheless whose
band portion will not cover the palm.
The above and other objects of the invention will become more
apparent from the following description.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The unique features of the invention, to achieve the above objects,
reside in that the band portion has a particular shape and that a
thumb band is provided instead of forming a thumb insertion hole.
These and other features of the invention will be more fully
understood from the following description with reference to the
accompanying drawing, in which:
FIG. 2 is a plan view of an embodiment of the bowler's wrist
support according to the invention;
FIG. 3 is a view showing the embodiment of FIG. 2 actually fitted
on the wrist viewed from the outer side thereof;
FIG. 4 is a view of the same viewed from the inner side of the
wrist;
FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5--5 in FIG. 2;
FIG. 6 is a plan view showing another example of the bowler's wrist
support according to the invention;
FIG. 7 is a view showing the embodiment of FIG. 6 actually fitted
on the wrist viewed from the outer side thereof;
FIG. 8 is a view of the same viewed from the palm side.
FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line 9--9 in FIG. 6;
FIG. 10 is a plan view of a rigid member 9 enclosed within the
rigid portion C;
FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along line 11--11 in FIG. 10;
and
FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along line 12--12 in FIG. 10.
FIGS. 2 to 5 show one embodiment of the wrist support according to
the invention. It consists of a rigid portion C, a wrist band
portion D joined to the right hand edge of the portion C and a
thumb band portion E joined to the left hand edge of the portion C.
The rigid portion C is provided on its upper portion with a hook
fastening member 3. The rigid portion C consists of a front surface
and a back surface of cloth, leather or a suitable packing material
enclosing a core consisting of an outer rigid member 9 and an inner
resilient member 10. While the rigid member 9 may be a flat plate
as shown in FIG. 5, it desirably has a curved configuration curved
both longitudinally and laterally as shown in FIGS. 9 to 12. The
rigid member 9 has a length of 5 to 18 cm, desirably 8 to 14 cm.,
and a width of 3 to 7 cm., desirably 4 to 6 cm. The radius of
curvature of its longitudinal section of FIG. 11 is 250 to 3,000
mm., desirably 500 to 1,500 mm., and the radius of curvature of its
lateral section of FIG. 12 is 30 to 1,000 mm., desirably 50 to 500
mm. The core of this curved configuration permits the rigid portion
to be closely fitted on the wrist and back of the hand, so that it
is particularly useful in preventing the outward bending of the
wrist. Such a core has never been known heretofore, and it is newly
developed by the inventor. The rigid member may be made of any
material so long as it has a rigidity enough to hold the wrist
straight; for example, such well-known material as iron, or like
metal such as steel and also various plastic materials may be
effectively used.
The wrist band portion D joined to the rigid portion C has an
important feature in its particular shape, which is shown in FIG. 2
in connection with the embodiment of FIGS. 2 to 4 and in FIG. 6 in
connection with the embodiment of FIGS. 6 to 8, but slight changes
in its shape and dimensions are allowed.
For purposes of better describing and more particularly pointing
out the particular shape of the invention the following dimensions
are specified.
In FIGS. 2 or 6, the cross sectional lines 5--5 and 9--9, that
bisect the rigid member and runs in a lengthwise direction, also
serve as reference lines for specifying these preferred dimensions.
h.sub.1, the shortest line that can be drawn from a point at the
top, or finger end, of the rigid portion along the long axis of the
rigid member and terminating at the center of fastening member 3,
is 1.5 to 7 cm., preferably 2 to 5 cm. h.sub.2, the dimension
running from the bottom, or arm end, junction of the rigid portion
C with the wrist band portion D and terminating at a point
corresponding to the bottom, or arm end, of the rigid portion, is
0.5 to 8 cm., preferably 1 to 5 cm. h.sub.3, the shortest line that
can be drawn between a point on the line passing through the center
point of fastening member 3 and perpendicular to reference line
5--5 or 9--9 and a point corresponding to the top of finger end,
junction of the rigid portion C with the wrist band portion D, is 3
to 6 cm., preferably 4 to 5 cm. h.sub.4, the length of the junction
between the rigid portion C and the wrist band portion D, is 4 to 7
cm., preferably 5 to 6 cm. 1, the shortest line running from a
point on reference lines denominated 5--5 and 9--9 and terminating
at a point corresponding to the junction of the rigid portion C
with the wrist band portion D, is 7 to 12 cm., preferably 8 to 10
cm. Since the wrist band portion D has this particular shape, it
will cover only the wrist portion even though the rigid portion D
covers the back of the hand, and the palm will not be covered even
if it is wound two or three turns. Also, since the width of the
wrist band portion D is quite small compared to the longitudinal
dimension of the rigid portion C, the wrist will not be absolutely
held tight but can be bent inward to a slight extent (although it
can not be bent outward). This is advantageous since considerable
freedom is provided for the handling of the ball.
This wrist band portion is provided on the back side of its free
end portion with a hook fastening member 8. Also, it is provided on
the front side of its other tapered end portion joined to the rigid
portion with a hook fastening member 6 and on the back side of the
same with a pile fastening member 7.
The thumb band portion E also constitutes an important feature of
the invention. By the provision of this thumb band portion E the
rigid portion C can be positioned over the wrist and back of the
hand irrespective of the size of the hand, and also it can be
closely fitted and will not get loose even at the stem of the
thumb. This thumb band portion E is provided on the back side of
its top end with a pile fastening member 4 and on the left corner
of its lower portion with a hook fastening member 5.
The thumb band portion has a shape as shown in FIGS. 2 or 6, where
the angle .alpha., the acute angle formed by the junction of the
line drawn thru the center point of fastening member 4 and the
center point of fastening member 5 and the line drawn thru the
center point of fastening member 3 and the center point of
fastening member 5, is 45.degree. to 85.degree., preferably
60.degree. to 70.degree.. As a fastening member Velcro, for
example, may be suitably used.
To fit the bowler's wrist support according to the invention, the
rigid portion C is placed on the back of the hand, and by winding
the wrist band portion D over the inner side of the wrist the pile
fastening member 7 on the back side of the tapered end portion of
the wrist band portion and the hook fastening member 5 on the left
corner of the lower portion of the thumb band portion are fastened
to each other. Then, the wrist band portion D is wound over the
front side of the rigid portion C and then over the inner side of
the wrist, and it is fixed in position by fastening the hook
fastening member 6 on the front side of the tapered end portion of
the wrist band portion D and the pile fastening member 8 on the
back side of the free end portion of the wrist band portion to each
other. Finally, by winding the thumb band portion E around the
thumb the pile fastening member 4 on the back of the free end
portion of the thumb band portion is fastened to hook fastening
member 3 on the upper portion of the rigid portion C.
When the bowler's wrist support according to the invention is
fitted, the wrist will not bend outward and also it can be bent
inward only to a slight extent, it is thus possible to give the
ball a strong spinning action so as to obtain a pin action of high
strike efficiency.
Also, when the bowler's wrist support is fitted by winding around
the wrist twice with the wrist band portion D and fastening the
thumb band portion E in conformity to the shape of the hand, the
rigid portion C is closely fitted over the wrist and back of the
hand, so that a constant supporting effect can be maintained
without resulting in any loosening effects even if the game is
continued for a long time.
Further, even when the bowler's wrist support according to the
invention is fitted, the palm will not be covered, so that one is
able, noting the possibility of the slight bending of the wrist
inward, to hold the ball in a natural way without any possibility
of restricting delicate bowling techniques. Furthermore, it is
possible to write scores with the hand fitted with the wrist
support.
It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes
may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and
the invention is not to be considered limited to what is shown in
the drawings and described in the specification.
* * * * *