Bowl For Table Type Game

Abstract

A manually manipulable curling bowl adapted to be slid, spun and delivered into the scoring field of a table-type game in a manner that it will come to a stop in a position as close as possible to the target ball. A predetermined peripheral surface of the bowl is provided with a concaved depression forming a seat for one of a user's thumb and tip of the index finger for curling the bowl toward the target ball, and a flattened surface arranged diametrically opposite the depression for cooperating with the depression and providing a rest for the other of the thumb and fingertip in delivering the bowl. This is a division, of application Ser. No. 75,831, filed Sept. 28, 1970, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,741,543.

Description

This invention relates to a bowl for use with surface projectile-type games such as are customarily and suitably designed and adapted for indoor and outdoor use and have a leg supported appropriately carpeted table, the playing surface of which is utilized in a predetermined manner to enable rival contestants to score points by manually shoving, curling and delivering bowls from a starting field to a scoring field in a manner hereinafter more fully described.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective showing a leg supported game table laid out to provide the starting and scoring fields or zones, the target ball being shown at the left and several of the delivered bowls of the contestants shown to the right thereof in relative relationship and scoring positions.

FIG. 2 is a view in perspective on a small scale of one of the bowls of the two distinguishable sets of bowls.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged central sectional view taken approximately on the plane of the section line 3--3 of FIG. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

And FIG. 4 is a plan view showing one manner of gripping the bowl wherein the thumb is engaged in the concave seat and the fingers are diametrically opposite and are engaging the slightly flattened color-coded surface of the bowl.

The table as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is denoted by the numeral 6. This table is elongated and as before mentioned it may be some 12 to 16 feet long and approximately 4 feet in width. The supporting legs S are suitably mounted and may be 30 inches more or less in height. The entire planar playing surface of the table is covered with an appropriate grade of firm finished carpet which is denoted generally at 10. The rim which encompasses the entire margin of the table is denoted generally by the numeral 12 and comprises suitable interconnected longitudinal and transverse rails 14 whose interior surfaces are cushioned with carpet as at 16. The main carpet surface is provided centrally and transversely with a dividing line 17 which defines a starting region or field 18 to the right of the line and a scoring field 20 to the left of the line. One end of the table which is distinguished here as the head at the right in FIG. 1 is denoted at 22. The other end which is differentiated as the foot is denoted at 24.

The aforementioned cue-like freely rollable target ball is denoted by the numeral 34. The bowls which are eight in number are individually denoted by the numeral 36 and each bowl is of identical construction. More specifically the bowl is substantially spherical but slightly ovoid in shape and accordingly is not a true sphere. One surface 3S is provided with a concave depression 40 of requisite size and depth which can be used to accommodate the thumb A of the hand as shown in FIG. 4. Alternatively it can be used to accommodate the index finger B where desired. The concave depression is encircled by concentric lines 42 which assist in enabling the user to position the thumb or fingers as the case may be. These lines 42 are primarily decorative. The diametrically opposite surface of each bowl is slightly flattened as at 44 and a plastic or equivalent disk, designated as a marker disk 46, is provided in the manner best shown for example in FIG. 3.

The game is played with two sets of four bowls 36 and one target or jack 34. The bowls of the respective sets are usually 21/2 inches in diameter and each bowl is provided with the aforementioned depression 40 for (1) the thumb or (2) the forefinger as the case may be. The flattened surface 44 opposite the depression 40 is provided with an inlaid disk which is color coded either red or white, that is, red for one player and white for the other player or contestant. The target ball is approximately 11/4 inches in diameter and solid white. As pointed out the game is played on a full carpeted table as shown advantageously in FIG. 1.

As a general rule the player or team with the red marked bowl will toss the jack to start the game. The jack obviously must be over the centerline 17 of play so that it will come to rest somewhere within the limits of the scoring field 20.

The player on the team throwing the jack out first plays first. The competitive player will then alternate and this mode of play will continue until each player has played, that is curled or delivered his four bowls 36. The player with the bowl closest to the target ball 34 will count one for each such bowled position. The closest bowl and all those of like color are counted for each given end. In preferred manner of play the game will consist of eight "ends" of play. Should each player have the bowl the same distance from the jack, that particular situation means cancelling the two correspondingly close bowls. The total score after eight "ends" wins the game.

It may be pointed out that by placing the thumb in the depressed seat 40 of the bowl and the index finger on the colored spot 46 and using a pushing or shoving motion a bowl will curl from right to left. Alternately, by turning the bowl 180.degree. and placing the thumb on the colored spot 46 and the index finger B in the depression or seat 40 and using the same delivery motion the bowl will curl left to right. If a bowl is bowled over and over, that is rolled but fails to curl, it can be taken out of play by the opponent for that particular period or "end" of play.

The views show the construction of the nearest spheroidal or substantially ovoid bowl or bowls. FIG. 4 shows how one can grasp the bowl with a view toward serving or sliding it over the surface from the head end 22 to the foot end 24. FIG. 1 shows two red and two white bowls up close to the target ball which represents a partial completion of an end. The other four bowls are shown at the right in FIG. 1 and are to be played by the participants. It is reiterated that the game can be played by either two or four contestants.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be restored to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

Claims

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. For use when playing bowls atop a carpet-covered table provided with target ball in resemblance of a cue-ball, a bowl which is solid and primarily spheroidal but slightly ovoid in shape and appearance and provided on one peripheral surface with a finger seating depression, and a flattened surface arranged diamterically opposite the depression, said depression being concave, symmetrical about a center point, and of a size and shape to provide a bowl curling seat for the user's thumb or the tip of the index finger and depending on whether the user desires the delivered bowl to swerve and curl leftward or rightward, said flattened surface cooperating with the depression to provide a rest for the thumb or finger tip in delivering the bowl, said flattened surface being provided with an identification marker disk of a predetermined color embedded therein.