US1621511A

US1621511A - Foul indicator for bowling alleys

Info

Publication number: US1621511A
Application number: US325548A
Authority: US
Inventors: August J Kempien
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1919-09-22
Filing date: 1919-09-22
Publication date: 1927-03-22
Anticipated expiration: 1944-03-22

Description

. 1,621,511 March 22, A J.

FOUL INDIC ATOR FOR BOWLING ALLEYS Filed Sept. 22, 1919 m ,ny-

Y o o y b 0 Jr 2% O 74/1 I I 5 v Brew-T071. I

Y fiyudif 0 ill Patented Mar. 22, 1927.

umran s1 res AUGUST J. KEMPIEN, or srr. PAUL; MINNESOTA.

Four. INnIoAroR ron BOWLING ALLEYS.

Application filedSeptember 22, 19i5. Serial No. 325,548.

My invention relates to improvement in foul line indicators for bowling alleys and has for its object to provide a device which is adapted to become operative for ind cating whenthe foot of a bowler passes over theiioul line of the alley and which remains inoperative during the passage of a bowling ball over the same.

In carrying out my objects, I employ an electrical circuit which has connected in it a switch positioned at the foul line or the bowling alley and a relay, the circuit or which is connected to a suitable signaling device. In addition, I provide the armature of said relay with-adjustable weights whereby the movement of said armature toward the relay coils is suificiently retarded to pre-.

vent the relay circuit from closing and actuating the signal, when the ball passesover the foul line switch. u

The full objects and advantages of my invention will appear in connection with the detailed description thereof and are particularly pointed out in the claims.

,In the drawings vforming part of thls specification: I

Fig. 1 is a plan view of abo-wling alley showing 7 my invention in diagrammatlc form, installed therein. 7

Fig. 2 isa sectional detail view, taken on line 2,2lof Fig. ;,1, drawn toan enlarged scale.

3 3 of Fig. 2.

My invention is best shown in Fig. 1, as

applied to an ordinary bowling alley, indicated in its entirety at A, which is provided with theusual pins B, set up in the ordinary manner. At the players end of the bowling alley,.l employ a switch D, which extends completely across the bowling alley at the foul line thereof. connected to an electrical circuit 11 which switch is connected in series with a battery the alley, as desired, so that'the player and pin setter may be simultaneously advised when a foul has been committed. If desired a sign 21 with the words Foul printed on it, may be positioned adjacent the signal 19.

Fig. 3 is a sectional viewtaken on line This switch, is directly The construction of the switch. D is brought out in detail in Figs. 2 and 3. A slot 1 3 is out directly across the bowling alley floor extending completely acrossthe same, at the foul line thereof. l/Vithin this slot is positioned a plate 12 which 'liesalong the bottom of the said slot. Immediately above the plate 12 is positioned a metal strip 10 which is provided withdownwardly extending contact points 14, adapted to come in contact with plate 12 when the-said strip is depressed. For supporting the strip 10, a number of plungers 15 are employed,which are rigidly attached thereto and which pass freely through openings 17 formed in the Silld. plate 12 and which engage compression coil springs positioned within the floor of the alley, below the slot 13. With this construction, thesaid strip 10 may be held nor mally positioned a. slightamount above the surface of the floor, with the contact points 1i normally tree from plate 12. When the bowlingball or the foot of a player crosses 1 the foul line the strip 10 is depressed,therebymaking contact with the plate 12. It can readily becomprehended however that when the bowling ball passes over the switch D, depressing strip 10, that the contact between the contact; pointl i and theplate 12 is only,

momentary, while when "the foot of, the player engages the said switch, the said contactis held closed for a greater period of time. A circuit 11 is con'nectedqto the strip 10 and plate 12 so that the same becomes closedwhen the strip lO'is depressed. s

T he relay C as best shown in Fig. 1 coinprises a coil 17' which is connected in series with a battervlS and the switch D vin 'the circuit 11. This relay furthercomprisesan armature '24 which is pivotally' mounted upona base 30 andis adapted 'tooscillate toward and away from the magnet 17 as the same is energized and deenergized. At the upper end of armature 24, provide two contact points 25 which form a circuit closing device for the circuit 20, one of the leads of the said circuit being directly connected to one of the contact points 25, and the other of the leads ofsaidcircuit beingconnected to the armature 24.: As thearmature 24is attracted by magnet 17 contact points 25 are caused to make contact and to close the circuit 20 so as to actuate the

signals

20 and 22.

For rendering the signal inoperative upon the passage of a bowling ball over the same,

I retard the movement of the armature 2A so that the time required for causing the said armature to become attracted by the magnet 17 is considerably greater than with the ordinary relay. This has the effect of preventing the said armature from being attracted by the magnet 17 when the bowling ball momentarily closes the switch D. For retarding said movement I employ a lever 31 which is rigidly attached to the armature 2i. This lever is arranged to project outwardly beyond the said armature on both sides thereof.- Upon the ends or the said lever are slidably mounted weights 32 which may be adjustably positioned along the said lever. A tension coil spring 33 is secured to the lever 31 on one side thereof and serves to hold the said armature 24: away from-the coil of the magnet 17. The movement of the same may be terminated by a stop 4&0 diagrammaticall shown in Fig. 1.- It can readily be seen that with this structure that when the bowling ball momentarily closes the switch D and completes the circuit 11, that the armature 24 due to the inertia of the same, formed by weights 32 will not become attracted by the said magnet 17 and hence will not cause the circuit 20 to actuate the

signals

19 and 22. On the other hand when the foot of a player depresses the switch member 10, the time elapsing before the players foot can be removed is sufficient to permit the magnet 17' to attract the armature 24 overcoming the inertia of theweights 32, thereby bringing the contact point 25 in contact, and causing the circuit 20 to actuate the s ignals 1-9 and 22.

The advantages army invention are apparent. A device is provided which is adapted to indicate when a technical foul has been committed by the player. This device is positive in action and exceedingly simple in construction and may be adjusted to remain inoperative for a minimun'i rate of speed at'which bowling balls would traverse the foul line of the alley.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the'principles of operation of my invention, together with the apparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof, but I desire to have it understood that the construction shown is only illustrative and that the invention can be carried 'out'by other means and applied to uses other than those above set forth within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A foulindicator comprising a signal device, means for operating said signal device, including a member positioned in the floor of the bowling alley, a circuit including a magnet with its armature controlled thereby and a weighted member carried by the pivot of said armature to create,a high moment of inertia whereby the signal device is inoperative upon amomentary actuation of said floor member.

2. A foul indicator comprising an electrical signal device, a normally open circuit for operating said signal device, a magnet havin'ga pivoted armature for closing said signal circuit, a normally open circuit for operating said magnet,'circuit closing means positioned in the floor of the bowling alley for closing said magnet circuit and means in relation to the pivot of said armature to cansela high moment of i1" .Jtia' for holding said armature from movement upon momentardy-closing said flow circuit closing device.

3. A foul indicator -co'mprising an electrical signal dev'ice,a norma ly open circuit for operating said signal device, a magnet having an armature for closing said signal circuit normally holding said signal circuit open, a normally open circuit for operating said magnet, circuitclosi'ng means positioned in the floor of the bowling alley for closing said magnet circuit, an arm secured to said armature and a weight adjustab'ly positioned on said arm for holding said armature from movement upon momentarily closing said floor circuit closing device. I

l. A foul indicator comprising a signaling device, a relay having a magnet, an armature, a circuit connected with saidmagnet, a circuit closing device-for clos'ing said magnet circuit, a circuit connected with said armature and signal, an arm connected with said armature, and an adjustable weighted member positioned upon said arm.

'5. A foul indicator comprising an electrical signal device, a normally open circuit for operating saidsignal device, a magnet having an armature for closing said signal circuit normally holding said signal circuit open, a normally open circuit for operating saidmagnet, circuit closing means positioned in the floor of the bowling alley for closing said magnet circuit, an arm secured to said armature and projecting on v sch side thereof, and a pair of weights adjustably positioned upon the ends ofsaid arm fer holding said arm from movement upon niomentarily closing said circuit device. 7

Signed at St.- Paul, in theeounty of Ram;- sey and State of Minnesota; this 18thday of September, 1919. v v

AUGUST J. KEM PI'EN.