Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a games practice or training apparatus for use in sports and/or recreation activities.

In one form the present invention relates to an apparatus for simulating games involving the use of balls, bowls or similar rolling generally spherical objects to improve performance at the games.

In one form the present invention relates to an apparatus for simulating the game of lawn bowls to provide players with opportunities of being able to practise and train for this game by being able to replicate variable length greens or rinks whilst the apparatus occupies a fixed constant dimensioned space.

Although the present invention will be described with respect to an apparatus and assemblies for practising and training for the game of lawn bowls, it is to be noted that the scope of the present invention is not restricted to the described apparatus or assemblies or to the game of lawn bowls but rather the scope of the present invention is more extensive so as to include other forms and arrangements of the apparatus and individual assemblies and their uses for training and practising in preparation for playing other games.

Backa round

Lawn bowls is an increasingly popular sport, although challenging in which to become proficient, due to many variables associated with releasing the bowl, such as, the force required to deliver the bowl to the Jack over individually variable distances of each end, the bias applied to the bowl using either forehand or backhand delivery, and the aim required to deliver the bowl along the intended trajectory. Mastering the various techniques required to perform well in this sport requires practice and patience, often requiring the use of a full size green or rink upon which to practise. On many occasions a full size green or rink is not readily available for practice due to the need of others to play competitive games of lawn bowls on the same lawn area. Full size bowling lawns require a large area of land. It is not possible to replicate a full-sized bowling lawn at home since such large areas are not usually available to players domestically owing to the small size relatively of residential premises even if players live in fully detached houses. Thus, there is a need for the opportunity to practise lawn bowls in a small space that replicates a full- size lawn bowl playing area.

Additionally, it is difficult to replicate in a small space the amount of force or "weight" applied to a bowl to replicate bowling on a full size bowling lawn since force, aim or direction commensurate with playing on a full size lawn cannot be achieved in the small space of insufficient length, since the bowl does not follow the desired trajectory but rather travels too far or fast or is too divergent from the intended "line", and generally does not provide the right "feel" or "weight" since the length of the green or rink cannot be varied to approximate an actual green rink due to the limitation of space, hence such practice is of limited, if any, usefulness. Therefore, there is a need for providing practice at home which more closely replicates playing bowls on an actual full size bowling lawn. Thus, there is a need to address the above problems or shortcomings, and/or at least provide a useful alternative.

Summary

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a lawn bowls simulation apparatus comprising a main body portion selectively adjustable to simulate playing distances of variable lengths representing different distances between the point of release of the bowl and a target of the game of lawn bowls, the main body portion having a marker located at or towards one end thereof, and a delivery portion locatable at or towards the end of the main body portion having the marker, the delivery portion having indicia representing desired different trajectories of travel of the bowl when released, the position of the delivery portion being translocatable to align a selected one of the indicia with the marker, wherein the selected one of the indicia of the delivery portion in alignment with the marker determines the trajectory of the bowl after release and the adjusted position of the body portion determines the simulated distance to the target thereby providing a training pathway for the bowl simulating the game of lawn bowls. According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a lawn bowls simulation apparatus comprising a centrally located main body portion selectively adjustable to simulate playing distances of variable lengths representing different distances between the point of release of the bowl and the jack of the game of lawn bowls, the main body portion having a marker located at or towards a first end thereof, a delivery portion locatable at or towards the first end of the main body portion having the marker, the delivery portion having indicia representing desired different trajectories of travel of the bowl when released, a selected one of the indicia being locatable in alignment with the marker, and a table assembly connectable to the main body portion at or towards a second end of the main body portion, the table assembly having a playing surface, the table assembly being adjustable to alter the position and orientation of the playing surface, the playing surface for receiving the jack thereon, the central main body portion being adjustably movable in accordance with corresponding adjustment of the table assembly when the table assembly is connected to the main body portion, wherein the selected indicia of the delivery portion in alignment with the marker determines the trajectory of the bowl after release and the position of the table assembly determines the adjusted position of the main body portion to simulate the distance from release of the bowl to the jack on the playing surface thereby providing a training pathway for the bowl simulating the game of lawn bowls to improve performance when playing the game.

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of practising or training for playing the game of lawn bowls using a lawn bowls simulation apparatus including a delivery portion, a central main body portion and a table assembly, comprising the steps of determining the type of shot to be practised using the apparatus, aligning a selected one of indicia provided on the delivery portion representing the desired shot to be practised with a marker provided on, at or towards one end of the main body portion, adjusting the position of the main body portion to represent the length of the green required for practising the shot by adjusting the position of the table assembly located at the other end of the main body portion, the delivery portion, main body portion and playing surface forming a substantially continuous training pathway for the bowl when released at the delivery portion, and releasing the bowl at the delivery portion to follow a trajectory from the delivery portion to the jack in accordance with the selected indicia along the training pathway of the main body portion and playing surface for improving the performance of playing lawn bowls.

Brief description of preferred embodiments

Preferred embodiments of the apparatus of the invention and of components of the apparatus and their use will now be briefly described.

Delivery Portion

In one form the delivery portion is a separate discrete component of the apparatus. However, in another form the delivery portion is coupled or joined to or integral with the central body portion, such as for example, by releasably securable fastenings, such as for example, using Velcro fasteners or similar, or may be hingedly connected to the central body portion. In one form the delivery portion can be placed in abutting or overlapping relationship with an end of the body portion.

In one form the delivery portion is a sheet of material, typically a flexible or semirigid material, or alternatively a sheet of thin rigid material, including being made from a natural material or synthetic material or artificial material or combinations thereof. The delivery portion can be made of any suitable material, such as for example, a carpet-like material, and can be of any suitable size, shape or configuration. In one form the delivery portion is a roll of suitable flexible material. Preferably, the delivery portion is a bowling mat or similar. Although the bowling mat can have any suitable size, shape or dimension, a preferred form is substantially rectangular having a length of about 3 metres and a width of about 1 metre. In one form the indicia provided on the upper surface of the bowling mat comprises a first set of guides corresponding to the backhand delivery technique in which the guides extend substantially longitudinally on one side of the central longitudinal axis of the bowling mat and a second set of guides corresponding to the forehand delivery technique in which the guides extend substantially longitudinally on the other side of the central longitudinal axis of the bowling mat. In one form the guides are continuous whereas in some forms the lines are discontinuous lines or other signs, markings, symbols or the like, preferably being linear, and more preferably, being in the form of broken or dotted straight lines or other forms of discontinuous straight lines. In forms the guide lines are curved, arcuate or otherwise rounded or the like. In one form there is a pair of backhand lines and a pair of forehand lines. In one form each line of a pair of lines is divergent from each other whereas in one form the two pairs of lines are divergent from one another. Preferably all lines are divergent from one another, typically extending from a single point, either a real point or spot or an imaginary point or spot located at or towards the end or edge of the delivery mat remote from the other end of the mat which is the end in abutting relationship with the central body portion. In one form, one of each pair of lines corresponds to the trajectory of the bowl when playing on the green or rink being of synthetic material to assist practice and training for playing lawn bowls on synthetic grass or similar artificial grass surfaces whereas the other of each pair of lines corresponds to the trajectory of the bowl being played when the green or rink is made of natural grass to assist practice and training for playing lawn bowls on natural grass. In one form the different lines are colour coded to differentiate them, such as green for natural grass and red for artificial grass. In one form the angle of deviation or divergence from the central longitudinal axis relating to synthetic grass or similar is approximately 7 degrees whereas the angle of deviation or divergence from the central longitudinal axis relating to natural grass is approximately 3.5 degrees. However, the angle of deviation or divergence can be any suitable amount.

In one form the selected guide or line corresponding to the technique being practised or trained, such as whether the technique is a backhand or forehand delivery, is aligned with the marker of the central body portion in use by moving the bowling mat in a generally transverse direction until the end of the selected line is aligned or coincident with the marker of the central body portion. It is to be noted that although it is preferred that the bowling mat can be in abutting contiguous relationship with the rear end of the main body portion to form a substantially smooth and level surface, it is possible for the mat to be in overlapping relationship with the rear end or rear edge of the main body portion. In one form the width of the mat is the same as or similar to the width of the body portion, both being about lm or similar. In one form the width of the mat is greater than the width of the body portion, sometimes much greater in width, such as for example the width of the mat is about 3m whereas the width of the body portion is about lm.

Central Body Portion

The body portion can be of any suitable size, shape, configuration or construction. In one form the body portion is substantially rectilinear having a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis. In one form the body portion is a single long section whereas in another form the body portion is formed of two or more interconnected sections, typically foldably joined to one another or hingedly interconnected or otherwise movably interconnected or coupled allowing one section to be folded upon the other section or sections of the apparatus into a disassembled configuration for storage and transportation. Preferably, the body portion has two sections of approximately equal size in both the transverse direction and longitudinal direction. However, the main body may have three or more sections foldably interconnected to one another.

In one form the body portion is a central body section. In one form the central body portion is a ramp, typically an inclined ramp, in which the height of one end is adjustable to alter the angle of inclination of the ramp with respect to the floor or other substrate upon which the ramp is located so is to more closely correspond to the variable length of the green or playing rink for lawn bowls by altering the rolling resistance of the surface of the inclined ramp to travel of the bowl thereon.

Although the inclined ramp can have any suitable size, shape or configuration particularly useful sizes include that the ramp be about 700 millimetre wide, about lm wide or similar and be about 1.8 metre in length, folding about the transverse centre line to form two halves of about 900 millimetre each. The width of the inclined ramp may vary and be tapered. The inclined ramp can be of three or more separate interconnected sections. In one form the inclined ramp is foldable in the lengthwise extending direction. The inclined ramp can have any suitable range of angle of inclination.

It is to be noted that the inclined ramp itself can be provided with means for adjusting the angle of inclination of the ramp by raising and lowering the forward end of the ramp, typically being independent from the table assembly when the table assembly is omitted from the apparatus, or the angle of inclination of the inclined ramp is adjusted by altering the height of the table assembly as the inclined ramp extends between or bridges the bowling mat and an upper part of the table assembly when connected to the table assembly. It is to be noted that the forward end of the inclined ramp is raised and lowered by raising and lowering the table assembly. In one form the angle of inclination is adjusted to replicate the playing surface of the green or bowling rink by altering the rolling resistance of the surface of the ramp in which the more the forward end of the ramp is raised the greater the resistance to movement of the bowl thus simulating a longer length green and the less the angle of inclination the lower the resistance thus simulating a shorter length green. The inclined ramp is adjusted to simulate greens having a distance within the range from about 24 metre to about 36 metre, typically a distance corresponding to about 24 metres, about 30 metres, about 36 metres or the like depending on whether the practice surface is to replicate artificial grass or natural grass. Allowing for adjustment of the simulated pitch length can allow a user to practice their general bowls game or setting of the jack.

In one form the inclined ramp is provided with an interconnector for coupling the inclined ramp to the playing surface of the table assembly, more typically an upper playing surface of the table assembly, such as a tabletop. In one form the interconnector is an adjustable interconnector to accommodate changes in the angle of inclination of the inclined ramp whilst maintaining secure connection between the inclined ramp and the upper surface of the top assembly, and maintaining the orientation or tilt of the tabletop.

Table assembly

In some forms of the simulation apparatus the table assembly is optional. In forms the open raised forward end of the ramp is closed or provided with a stop. In forms not having the table assembly, or not requiring the use of the playing surface of the table assembly, a barrier, typically in the form of a back plate or back wall is provided at the forward raised end of the inclined ramp to close the end of the inclined ramp to prevent bowls from overshooting the raised forward end of the ramp, thereby facilitating return of the bowls to the delivery mat via the inclined ramp in preparation for taking a further shot of the bowl thus increasing the effectiveness of the practice or training.

In one form the table assembly includes a table top, preferably being generally planar, forming a playing surface upon which the target, typically in the form of the jack, opponent's bowls, or the player's bowls, is located, and in some uses of the apparatus, upon which the bowl or bowls come to rest after being delivered from the bowling mat via the inclined ramp, and a base for adjustably supporting the table top in a selected or desired position and/or orientation. The table assembly further includes a two-way adjuster for adjusting the table assembly in two different orientations or configurations being height adjustable to raise and lower the height of the table top above ground level and consequently the angle of inclination of the ramp by raising and lowering the forward end of the ramp, and also being tilt adjustable to adjust the level, slope or orientation of the table top, such as from the horizontal to a sloping orientation, to provide a desired playing surface, such as for example, a generally flat or horizontal playing surface upon which the target or Jack is located to replicate the actual game of lawn bowls or a sloping or tilted playing surface, preferably tilted towards the ramp, for returning the bowl to the bowling mat via the ramp during practice and training, also increasing the effectiveness of the practice. In one form the height adjuster includes an adjustable base or adjustable legs, preferably independently adjustable legs. Forms of the legs are folding legs.

Although the table top of the table assembly can be of any suitable size, shape or configuration, one useful form of the table top is substantially circular so is to provide a generally curved or rounded playing surface, whereas another form is rectangular or square. However, when the table top is circular, it is to be noted that a part of the circular playing surface is provided with a chord providing a flat segment along part of the circumference thereof for abutting or interconnectedly coupling the table top to the forward end of the ramp in abutting relationship. The table top is provided with a join or similar about the central axis along the lengthwise extending axis if square or rectangular or along a diameter of the generally circular playing surface, enabling the tabletop to be folded into two sections or halves, preferably hingedly folded. Additionally, in one form each generally semi-circular section of the circular playing surface is provided with a join or similar parallel to one another and to the central axis so that each section can be folded there along in parallel relationship to the central axis to form the table assembly into a disassembled configuration. When the top is square or rectangular the top can be folded both longitudinally and transversely into four sections of about equal size and shape. In one form, in use, when the apparatus is in assembled condition, the central axis of the playing surface is aligned with the central longitudinally extending axis of the ramp to form a pathway for bowls travelling from the bowling mat up the ramp to the table top.

In one form the table assembly, more particularly the table top, is provided with a raised edge or rim around the outer edge or periphery or around the circumference of the table top to form a barrier preventing bowls and/or the jack from falling off the playing surface. In one form the raised edge is in the form of a flange or upstanding wall or similar. Furthermore, it is to be noted that the table assembly, more particularly the table top, is provided with a holder for receiving a visual recording device, such as for example, a mobile phone, camera, or other personal electronic device for recording the positions and movement of the bowls and Jack during play, practice or training so as to provide additional information to the player to enhance practice and training so as to improve the performance of the person playing bowls.

Although the table top can be of any suitable shape or size, a preferred size if circular is having a diameter of about 2 metres, or if square or rectangular is about lm. Larger sizes are also possible. In one form the table assembly is adjustable through a range of heights of from about 600mm to about 1.2m.

Brief description of the drawings In order that the invention may be more easily understood, an embodiment will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic side elevation view of one form of an embodiment of a lawn bowls simulation apparatus from which embodiment the bowling mat at one end thereof has been omitted.

Figure 2 is a schematic top plan view of the embodiment of Figure 1, also not showing the bowling mat.

Figure 3 is a schematic top plan view of the embodiment of figure 1 but additionally showing the bowling mat included abutting the rear end of the inclined ramp to form a full continuous playing pathway.

Figure 4 is a schematic top perspective view from one end of another embodiment of the lawn bowls simulation apparatus showing the bowling mat at one end in alignment with the centrally located inclined ramp leading to the table assembly upon which the jack is located at the other end.

Figure 5 is a schematic top perspective view from the other end of the embodiment of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a schematic side elevation view of the apparatus of Figure 4 in a disassembled condition in which the components are separated from one another ready for storage and/or transportation.

Figure 7 is a schematic front elevation view of the apparatus of Figure 4 in a disassembled condition showing the components separated from one another.

Figure 8 is a schematic side elevation view of another form of an embodiment of a lawn bowls simulation apparatus having a different table assembly.

Figure 9 is a schematic top plan view of the embodiment of Figure 8.

One embodiment of the lawn bowls playing simulation apparatus, generally denoted as 2, will now be described in detail. Apparatus 2 which comprises three main components or sub-assemblies being a delivery portion 4, a central body portion 6, and a table assembly 8, has a total length overall of the three components of nominally about 7 metres, more typically about 6.9 metres or so, and a total width of nominally about 3 metres with a diameter of the table assembly of nominally about 2 metres. However other forms of the apparatus are about lm wide overall as shown more particularly in Figures 8 and 9.

One form of delivery portion 4 is a bowling mat 12, shown more particularly in figures 3, 4 and 5 but omitted from figures 1 and 2. Bowling mat 12 is a substantially planar sheet of suitable flexible material, typically in the form of a generally rectangular piece of carpet or carpet-like textile material that can be rolled up for storage. Bowling mat 12 has a forward end 14 which is located in abutting relationship with the rear end of central body portion 6 in use to form a substantially continuous playing surface providing a pathway for bowl 38 to traverse along the chosen trajectory. An origin 16 typically in the form of a point, spot or similar indicated by a dot or other indication is provided at or towards rear end 18 of mat 12. A plurality of guidelines in the form of broken, dotted or otherwise discontinuous straight lines diverge from origin 16 to provide guides for the trajectory to be taken by bowl 38 released from origin 16. A first pair of lines, being outer line 20a and inner line 20b extend from origin 16 on one side of mat 12 to provide guidance for the trajectory using the backhand technique for playing bowls in which outer line 20a, at an angle of about 7 degrees from the central lengthwise extending axis of mat 12, corresponds to a green or rink of synthetic grass and inner line 20b at an angle of about 3.5 degrees corresponds to a rink of natural grass. Similarly, a second pair of lines, being outer line 20c and inner line 20d, extend from origin 16 on the other side of mat 12 to provide guidance for the trajectory using the forehand technique for playing bowls in which outer line 20c is at an angle of about 7 degrees from the central lengthwise extending axis of mat 12 to simulate synthetic grass and line 20d at an angle of about 3.5 degrees simulates natural grass. It is to be noted that in this form bowling mat 12 is selectively translocatable transversely with respect to central body portion 6 to align the selected guideline, either 20a, 20b, 20c or 20d, with a marker or similar of the central body portion in accordance with the technique being practised. Other forms of mat 12 have guide lines 20 at both ends thereof, as shown more particularly in Figure 4, allowing both ends of mat to be used by aligning them separately. In use, mat 12 is positioned in abutting or overlapping relationship with respect to the rear end of central body portion 6 with the end of the selected guideline being coincident or aligned with the marker provided on the central body portion. As an example, if the backhand technique is to be practised simulating natural grass the end of line 20b is aligned with the marker or if the forehand technique on synthetic grass is to be practised guideline 20d is aligned with the marker. In one embodiment in which the widths of the mat and of the body portion are the same, the mat need not be translocatable transversely but rather has a single position at the end of the body portion as shown more particularly in Figure 7.

Central body portion 6 which is located intermediate mat 12 and table assembly 8, for extending therebetween, is, in one form, an inclined ramp 30 having a rear end thereof in abutting and/or overlapping relationship with the forward end of mat 12 and the other end, the forward end thereof, in contact with table assembly 8 by being movably connected thereto. A marker 32, provided at or towards or on the rear end of ramp 30, provides a visual alignment mark to correctly align the selected guide line 20 of mat 12 in the correct orientation to ramp 30 in accordance with the selected technique being practised. It is to be noted that marker 32 can have any suitable or convenient form to provide the indication of correct alignment. In one form marker 32 includes or incorporates a sensor (not shown) for providing an indication of the trajectory of the bowl when released. In one form the sensor includes a pressure point or similar device for detecting the presence, location, speed or the like of the bowl, so that when the bowl touches the spot or marker or sensor a signal will be produced to provide the information required to practise the particular shot. In one form the sensor produces a sound which emanates to indicate that the bowl has the correct trajectory. It is to be noted that any form of suitable sensor may be used to provide a visual or aural or combination of both indications that the bowl is travelling along the correct pathway to further enhance the quality of the practice or training when using the apparatus.

Ramp 30 is provided with an upstanding side wall 34a, 34b along each longitudinal side edge to contain the bowl when on ramp 30 to prevent the bowl from falling off the apparatus and to assist in directing the bowl back to mat 12 when returning from the table assembly after the practice bowl. Ramp 30 is provided with a connector 36 for adjustably and/or movably interconnecting the forward end of ramp 30 and the rear end or edge of table assembly 8. Connector 36 can be of any suitable form, type or arrangement in order to provide secure connection whilst the height and/or orientation of the table assembly is being adjustable in height and angle. In particular, it is to be noted that connector 36 allows for changes in inclination of ramp 30 whilst still being connected to table assembly 8 to maintain secure interconnection between ramp 30 and table assembly 8, more particularly the upper playing surface of table assembly 8, to provide a smooth continuous pathway for the bowls.

Table assembly 8 which will now be described in more detail, includes a base 40 for stably supporting apparatus 2, more particularly for supporting table assembly 8, on a suitable substrate, such as for example, the ground, driveway, path including a footpath or similar, when the apparatus is being used outdoors, or a floor in the event that the apparatus is being used indoors or on a veranda, patio, decking or similar outdoors/indoors structure. Base 40 can be of any suitable form or type, including being a box or having a box like structure. In one form base 40 includes either a single adjustable leg 41a located on one side thereof or a pair of adjustable legs 41a, 41b located on opposite sides or edges thereof, to alter the tilt of the table assembly by lengthening one leg in preference to the other leg. When there is a single leg 41b located at the forward end of base 40 one side of base 40 is adjustable, being the forward side to raise the forward end of table assembly 8 to tilt the assembly whilst the other side being the rear end of base 40 does not raise but tilts only. In this form there is no leg 41a on the rear side of base 40, only leg 41b on the forward side thereof.

Although base 40 and legs 41 can be of any suitable type of style, in one form leg 41b is adjustable in length to alter the height of the side of the box on which is located leg 41b to tilt the table, typically the height of the forward end to tilt assembly 8 towards inclined ramp 30 to facilitate bowl 38 returning to the delivery mat via the ramp after playing the practice shot. Legs 41a, 41b. if both are provided, are independently adjustable legs which are independently extendable and retractable in length to tilt selectively both the base and the adjuster in unison to the desired orientation of the table top. Legs 41a, 41b, in one form, are folding legs. Alternatively, if leg 41b only is provided, extending leg 41b on the forward end of base 40 tilts assembly 8 towards ramp 30. A telescopic height adjuster 42 is mounted upon base 40 to extend upwardly from the upper surface of base 40 to raise and lower the height of table assembly 8 in a range from about 600mm to about 1.2m. Adjuster 42 comprises vertically upwardly extending tube 44 fixedly mounted on the upper surface of base 40 and is provided with a pair of opposed holes 46 for receiving therethrough a pin 48. A movable rod 50 is received within tube 44 and provided with a multitude of spaced apart adjustment apertures 52. It is to be noted that adjustment apertures 52 include two sets of adjustment apertures or bores being clearly identified as being different from each other. The adjustment apertures 52 include a first set of apertures, typically coloured green, corresponding to changing the angle of inclination of ramp 30 to simulate the green or rink being natural grass and a second set of apertures or bores, typically coloured red, corresponding to changing the angle of inclination of ramp 30 to simulate synthetic grass. Pin 48 is received through the selected adjustment apertures 52 of rod 50 and opposed holes 46 of tube 44 when in alignment with each other to set and maintain table assembly 8 at the correct height in accordance with the selected length of green or rink being simulated. It is to be noted that in one form adjustment apertures 52 are spaced apart at a spacing to provide an angle of inclination of ramp 30 simulating a length of natural grass rink or of synthetic grass rink of lengths of typically between about 24 metre and 36 metre, such as at a length of about 24 metre, of about 30 metre, or of about 36 metre.

In other embodiments (not shown), telescopic height adjuster 42 is replaced with a powered mechanism, which may be driven hydraulically, electrically or pneumatically, using a liner actuator for example. This allows easy adjustment of the ramp angle and simulated pitch length. The mechanism may also have preset positions that correspond to preset table heights to simulate pitches of different predetermined lengths.

A table support 56 is fixedly connected to the top of rod 50 to provide support for table top 60 forming the upper playing surface of table assembly 8. Table top 60 includes a generally planar upper playing surface, typically covered with a suitable material, such as for example a synthetic material closely resembling artificial grass or natural grass. As shown in Figures 1 to 5, one form table top 60 is generally circular but having a segment removed along a part of the circumference to form a straight edge 62 for connection to the forward end of ramp 30 using connector 36 which may be of any suitable or convenient form. A central fold line or join 64 is formed along a central axis of table top 60 extending in alignment along the longitudinal axis of apparatus 2 from about the midpoint of the straight edge 62 of the playing surface to a point diametrically opposite thereof. Table top 60 can be hingedly folded along central fold line 64 into two generally semi-circular sections or halves 66a, 66b of approximately equal size. A side fold line or join 68a, 68b is formed in each of the two sections or halves 66a, 66b of the table top in which each side fold line or join 68a, 68b is substantially parallel to the central fold line or join 64 and to each other 68a, 68b thereby allowing the table top to be folded into four sections to disassemble table top 60 to form a transport or storage configuration as shown more particularly in figures 6 and 7, for ease of storage and/or transportation when in the disassembled state.

A generally circular upstanding wall or rim is provided around the curved circumference of table top 60 to prevent bowls falling from table top 60. In one form the upstanding wall is in the form of a raised flange or edge 70 as shown more particularly in circle "A" of figure 3. A rubber bumper may be provided on the upstanding wall to allow a user to practice driving. A holder, typically in the form of a cut out or slot 72, is provided in the upstanding flange or edge 70 of the circular wall of table top 60 at a position adjacent to the end of central fold line 64. Slot 72 is provided to receive a sign or other indicator, such as a card or similar, providing information to assist in selecting the correct trajectory of the bowl such as the distance from mat 12 to the jack, for example 24m, and also to indicate whether ramp 30 simulates natural or artificial grass. In one form the card will be green to signify natural grass and red for artificial grass.

A mounting is provided in upstanding wall 70 at a position on or close to the axis of fold line 64 for mounting a recording device, such as a camera or mobile phone 74, thereto for producing a visual image of the playing surface of table top 60 to provide further information and guidance about the respective locations of jack 90 and bowls 38 on the playing surface and their respective movements after each practice bowl.

Another form of the practice apparatus 80 has a generally square table top 82 having a width corresponding to the width of ramp 30, typically of about lm, as shown more particularly in Figures 8 and 9. Apparatus 80 has a fold line 84 extending longitudinally of table top 82 on the playing surface thereof for folding table top 82 into two approximately equal dimensioned halves 86a, 86b for ease of storage and transportation when disassembling the apparatus. Peripheral wall 88 is provided around the perimeter of table top 82.

In use of the simulation apparatus 2 or 80, in the form of a portable lawn bowling training and practise apparatus, similar to that described above, apparatus 2 or 80 can be set up on the floor inside a building or enclosure, such as for example, in a garage, shed or the like or alternatively, on a flat area outdoors, such as a driveway, decking, patio, path or similar or on a piece of ground, for the purposes of coaching, training or playing a game including playing conventional lawn balls game or a modified game of bowls. The apparatus is used for training and practice, such as to teach children and beginning adults, as well as more experienced players, to bowl more correctly with the correct line, length and posture. Additionally, using the apparatus perfects the techniques of delivering bowl 38 from the mat to Jack 90 at different distances by raising or lowering the table assembly, more particularly the table top, to simulate different distances to jack 90 by changing the angle of inclination of the ramp to increase or decrease rolling resistance to the practice bowl, whereby the forward end of the ramp is higher than the rear end to replicate different green lengths from about 24m to 36m.

Many modifications of the above embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Advantaaes

At least one embodiment presently described has at least one of the following advantages:

Forms of the portable lawn bowls simulation apparatus are transportable.

Forms of the portable lawn bowls simulation apparatus can be used indoors or out of doors.

Forms of the portable lawn bowls simulation apparatus can take less than about 5 minutes to either set up or to disassemble.

When in a disassembled configuration the apparatus is relatively compact for ease of storage or transportation. Variable length bowling greens or rinks can be simulated within a fixed constant space.

Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or admission or any form of suggestion that that prior publication (or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates.