US1976563A - Portable bowling alley - Google Patents

Description

' s sheets-sheet 1 J. R. JOHNSEN El AL PORTABLE BOWLING ALLEY Filed April 27, 1931 Oct. 9, 1934.

Oct- 9, 1934 J. R. .JoHNsEN Er Al. 1,976,563

PORTABLE BOWLING ALLEY' Filed April 27, 1931 5 Shet-Z-tS-Slleei'I 2 Oct 9, 1934- J. R. JoHNsEN Er A.L

PORTABLE BOWLING ALLEY Fi1ed.April 27, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Oct. 9, 1934.

J. R. JoHNsEN ETLAL PORTABLE BOWLING ALLEY Filed April 27, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Oct- 9, 1934- J. R. JoHNsEN Er Al." 1,976,563 I v PORTABLE BOWLING ALLEY Filed April 27, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Oct. 9, 1934 PoarfieLEjBovi-LNGLALLY James R. v.ollnsen and AzrellQlfortywChicago, Il.

` Application' April Yt7, .1931, serial'rfo. 533.090 'rjcieimsf .(ci. 4.avai- 51")1 'This invention: relates to improvements in porte' able bowling alleys and it consists of the matters hereinafterA described and more particularly' pointed out in the appended. claims.

The primary Object of the invention is topro vide a portable bowling alley which' may be set up for use and taken apart or knocked down yfor storage, without the aid of tools of any kind, the various parts being so formed and'intertted that they lock together in place to forni 'a rigid, level alley upon which the gamemay be played with satisfaction. 'i f v A further object of the invention' is to provide an alley of this kind, including a pit and agutter which also serves as a ball return, the latter being made in sections as is the bed of the alley and to which it may be easily and quickly attached and detached. Y Still another object of the inventionis'to -provvide in an alley of this kind, a pit construction which is yieldingly connected to the alley to reduceI the impact of the ball and .pins so that the back-stop thereof hasla greater period of useful'- ness and the noise andA clatter of the .ball and pins is reduced to such an extent as to be unobjectionable. f.

These objects of the invention as well-as others, together with the many advantages thereof, .will more fully appear as we proceedv with our specication. 1. v

In the drawings:,,-

Fig. 1 isa top plan View of a portable.bowling alley embodying our invention, `in set-up form., Fig. 2 is a View in side elevation of the .samel as viewed from the left-hand side of the alley and shows one of the gutters formedto provide a ball.

return.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view on an enlarged scale,

of the pit end of the alley, in its set-up condition,

with parts broken away to more fully illustrate the construction thereof. Y

Fig. 4 is a -top plan viewon the scale of'FigB Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one off 'the gutter.

sections in itsv folded condition.

Fig. 8 .is a perspective view'of a certain c'ori'ijA necting clip or bracket embodied in onev oij` the wall whichY carries an impact cushion or pad is gutter sections ofour improved alley. f

Fig. 9 is a'perspective view'of another y connect; .ing clip' embodied' in one-of the gutter'sections of` our improved alley and which clip is adapted for' cooperation withthe clip* or bracket shown in Fig; 8."

Fig. l10. is a detail longitudinal vertical sectional iew 'throughthe abutting ends of the two'alley sections Withthe combinedlocking bar and supporting beam inthe position it occupies before Lit is turned to extend'transversely to draw andlock said alley section ends together. i

Fig. 11' is'a View similar to that shown in Fig. 10 withthej locking bar and supporting-'beam inla position locking said alley section vends in a ldrawn together position.

Fig. 12 is a detail horizontal'sectional view'on an enlarged scale through the alley sectiorilocking` means' astaken on the line 1'2-12 of Fig. 11; Fig. 13fis a bottom plan view ofone of the in` termediate alley sections on the scalevof FigsfB and 4. L

Fig. 14 is a detail horizontal sectional View similar toFig. 12 and illustrates more particularly the arrangement'v of the 'openings in thev alley section connecting yokes. il Fig. 15 is a plan view of one end of onel of the supporting beams and locking bars employed in our improvided alley construction and illustrates more particularly the engagement ofthe gutter brackets o'i" clips therewith.

ln' general, our improved alleycomprisesY a plurality ofalley sections; namely, a pit and pin end section, a ball delivery or foul line section and a number of intermediate sections. Said seca; tions, each of which'include's a ball-way or deck; are adaptedto abut, end to end and associated with `such'endsv of adjacent sections are members operable todraw said ends Vtightly together and' thereafterlcck them in this position, said me1n-.v bers'thereafter forming the transversel supporting beams ormembers for the alley. When'said mem` bers are in this position, they extend 'laterally beyond' each side of said sections so as to there operatively support a sectional gutter. and one of said gutters is' employed ,asa ball'return.' For this'purpose" that section ofr said one of said gutters', atthe'ball delivery end'o'f-the alley, is in' clined downwardly to forma ball stop.

' Associated with the rst mentioned alley section'is a pit into whichthe pins falllupon lbeing engaged bythe bowled ball. Thispit includes side 1 boards or walls and 'a cross walljdetachably con-1:

nectedl together and yieldinglyconnected as a whole to the associated alley section.l The cross provided with floorengaging rollers so that upon impact from the `bowled ball, the `pit yields rearwardly to return to normal position, ready for the next ball to be bowled.

Referring now in detail to that embodiment of the invention, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, our improved alley consists of a pit or pin end section 1, at the front end of the alley, a ball delivery or foul line section ,2 at the rear ofthe alley, and intermediate sections 3, 4 and 5 respectively. The words front, and rear are used only for convenience ofv expression and with respect to the direction in which a bowler faces the alley when delivering a ball upon the alley- As the constructions of the various alleysections are substantially alike, a description of one will suffice for all. lAs best shown in Fig'. 13 vwhich illustrates a bottom plan view of one of the intermediate alley sections, the same comprises longitudinally extending side'stringers or sills 4a` and similar intermediate stringers or sills 58L spaced a suitable distance apart and connected at their ends by .transverse front and rear end members 6 Vand 7respectively and by intermediate Y. transverse brackets 8 8. At each end of each section and following about the various sills and associated cross members and secured thereto in any suitable manner, are pairs of metallic strips 9-9 asbest shown in Fig. 13 whereby a strong rigid frame is provided for each alley section. Y y

To such a frame for each section there is secured on the top thereof, a deck or ball-way 10 in the formV of flooring-like boards. The end members and 7 arel oppositelyrabbeted as at `11 (see Fig.

10) so as to better interengage each other and the tongue 12 of each cross member is angled off at the sides as at 13 in Fig; 13 to engage in the like angled off end 14 .of the groove 15 of the other end of an abutting section.v By this angled oi arrangement of the tongues and grooves Aof the rabbeted connection of the said cross members, the various sections become self-centering or self-aligning and a goodeven deck orfball-way is assured Wherein thecross seams are reduced to such a minimum as to in no manner cause a bowled ball to deviate from its course-` H Each cross member 6 and 7 has secured to the center of its bottom surface, horizontally disi posed U-shaped, metallic brackets 16 and 17 respectively. These brackets are made of ilat metallic stock and the free ends of the bottom armsthereof are adapted to overlap. In the overlappingparts of said arms, are provided oppositely facing key-hole or figure 8-like openyings 18 for engagement by certain locking cams as will soon appear. y These openings 18 extend Vtransversely of` said brackets as best shown in Fig. 14 and lwhen the bracket arms are first engaged, ajpart ofthe opening in one arm is offset slightly, with respect to an associated part o-f the like opening inthe other arm as appears inY Each beam-.like ,memberv is made up of a pair of y laterally spaced, edgewise disposed boards 19e-19*3L secured together in parallel relation by a plurality of rectangular, strap-like brackets 20 v and 21-there beingga bracket 20 at the middle of said member and a bracket 21 at each end` thereof. In the top part of the middle or center bracket is secured an rupright stud 22, includingl top and bottom oppositely facing, cams 23, that part of the stud between saidv camsY being of. an r elliptical instead of a circular cross section. Said stud is adapted for insertion up through the opposite facing key-hole-like openings 18 in the associated U-shaped brackets 16 and 17 respectively when said openings are in substantially the relation shown in Fig. 14. In the top part of each end bracket 21, of those supporting beamsl at each end of the alley, is formed anopening 24 best shown in the upper right-hand corner of Fig. 3`and inthe bottomfleft-hand,corner of Fig. 4 and the purposes of which will later appear.Y In the end brackets 21 of each of the intermediate beams 19 is formed an opening 24a into which opens arecess 2lilo extending longitudinally of the beam.

In assembling the alley sections together, they are preferably stood upright upon their' sides to expose the overlapping ends of the members 16 and 17. A beam or cross member is then taken in hand and cam 23 of the stud 22 thereof, is then insertedthrough the registering lopenings 18 in said members 16 and 17,',to bring saidA cams upon opposite sides of saidwmembers. The beam is then turned aboutlthe stud-22v as an axis so as to extend transversely of the sections and lines up with the lmeeting endsv thereof. In this turning movement of the beam, the stud 22 so operates against parts of the openings 18as to not only snugly draw the brackets r16 and 17 and associated alleyends together longitudinally, but the cams 23-232act to draw said brackets together in the plane of the axis of said stud' 22. This drawing together of the` brackets in this last mentioned direction, alsoacts to more tightly engage the rabbeted end members 6 and 7 to-4 gether in the plane of` said axis of the stud to insure a perfect connection between the` alley section ends. Y

When the beams are thus disposed, their ends project beyond the sides of'the alley sections so that the various openings as mentioned, inr the end brackets 21 of each beam. are exposed. When the various sections are secured together by the beams, they are placed upon the floor or otherV provided Von its end brackets with headed studs' 25 as best shown in Fig. 3.

The brackets 21 for the various cross beams are each. provided with leveling or adjusting screws` 21a as best shown in Figs. 1, 5 and 6 respectively. v

At the front of the alley is provided the, pitl indicated as a whole at 26. This pit includes an upright head or cross board27 andupright. side boards 28-28 of a height to extend the desired distance above the bed of `the alley. Each side board which is cut away at its rearbottci'mcor-v ner as shown invFig.` 2 is providedvonlits innerv surface near its rear end,with an angle mbar v'strip' 29, the` horizontal `flange V30 of# which ,I engages upon the top surface of the end of an associated cross beam`19. In each flangel ,30, is vprovided a esta which said head will then overhang the sides of said slot forward of said enlargement.`

Each side board has an outwardly extending hook-like stud 33 to receive one end of a spring 34, the other end of which is adapted for en'- gagernent with a similar hook 35 extendingoutwardly from that beam 19 facing the' pit. The front edge of each side board is provided with loops 36 to receive hooks 37 on the `ends of the head board whereby the side boards and head board are detachably connected together. The head board is provided at its bottomrwith suitable rollers 38 for engagement upon the floor or other support upon which the alley is set; Associated with said head board is an impact pad or cushion 39, having hooks for a detachable engagement for the top edge of the' head board. During bowling upon the alley, they bowled ball and probably some of the pins will strike the cushion. The impact thereof, will be partially absorbed by the pad or cushion and will also be partially absorbed by the springs 34 in the guided movement of the pit as a whole. If desired a vsuitable pad or cushion 40 may be employed upon the floor of the pit but this is not absolutely essential. l. i

At each side of the alley bed or ball-way as provided by the various sections, is also Vprovided a gutter, each indicated as a Whole by the numerals 41 and 42 respectively, the former being the left-hand gutter and the latter being the right hand gutter. Such gutters are primarily intended for guiding those bowled balls which roll off the alley bed into the pit and one of them; namely, the left-hand gutter in this instance, is used as a ball-return from the pit.

` While both gutters are sectional and are of substantially the same construction, one section of the left-hand gutter in this instance; namely, the rearmost section, is pitched downward so that the returned balls are conveniently disposed for use in another bowling. Each gutter is nade up of a pit end section 43, a delivery orfoul linel section 44 and intermediate sections 45, 46 and 47 respectively.V In Fig. 7'isil1ustrated one .of the intermediate sections which includes .a bottom board 48 and a side guide board 49 hinged together along one edge by longitudinally disposed hinges 50. The straps of said hinges are disposed on the outside of said boards and act to hold the boards in the desired angular relation which is greater than as best shown in Fig. 5. To the front end of each side guide board is pivoted a connecting clip 51, adapted when the sections of the gutters have been set up, to overhang the front end of the guide board of the next gutter section as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. On the front end of the underside of the bottom board of each gutter section is secured a clip or plate 52 (see Fig. 8) having a forwardly extending and slightly offset finger 53. On the rear end of said surface of each bottom board is provided a plate 54 (see Fig. 9) having a depending laterally disposed hook 55.

In assembling the gutter, it is most convenient to start with the gutter section 43. With said section folded together in the condition shown in Fig. 7, the finger 53 on the front end thereof, is inserted into the opening 24 in the bracket 21 of the cross beam 19 at the pit end of the alley.

As the gutter sections are each of a length approximating that ofthe alley bed or ball-Way sections, this will bring the hook 55` on the rear end thereof, in line with the opening 24a in the A'associated bracket 21 of the next cross beam and ito which it i's nseitled In applying',` rear end of the gutter section in place, said hookis. first engaged in said opening 24a and'then the; rear endof said section is moved laterally inward Vso thatA said hook enters the recess 24b to engage the underside off the bracket 21. The side guide board of that -particulargutter section just positioned, may now be opened up and its rear end will rest against the associated side board 28 of thcpiti l nThe second gutter section is now grasped while in' its folded condition andthe finger 53 on the front end thereof, is inserted in the opening 24a of the end bracket-21 of the next orsecond cross beam 19 and to the/outsideor rear closed end of the hook 55 on the rear end ofthe bottom board of the gute ter section `already inlplace." AThisinterengaging of the` h ookjand finger mentioned may be readily' accomplished by holding thefront end ofthe folded section about to be positioned at a down-r wardandy inward angle.` After the' finger has been' engaged inthe opening24 and with the hookv55 as described, the vrear end of said folded sectionris swung in toward the next or` third'cross beam and its rear end is engaged upon said beam and its hook 55 then lines up with and enters the opening24a andrecess 24b 'of the third beam. The side'guide board of the gutter section just mentioned is then swung Ainto an open position and the clipA 51on its front end iscaused to engage the rear'endrnarginall part of the like board of the first positioned gutter section. The gutter sections 46 and 47 are operated upon ,in the same manner as'is the last or rearmost gutter section' '44.

This last mentioned 4gutter section is inclined downwardly towards its rear end and is provided with a pivoted hook 56 the free end of which is engaged in the opening 24a of the end bracket of the last or rearmost ycross 'beam as best shown in Fig.5. A cushion 57 isthen placed in this gutter section, up against said beam to act as a ball-'stop for the returned balls. Thus with this section', inclined as mentioned, the balls returned from the pit along saidV gutter, after va bowl, are retained in position convenientl for the bowler in picking up the ball for another bowl. If desired both gutters may be Amade in this way, but only one' is necessary, v

The alley,- as aY whole, may4 bev knocked down for storage, b'y'ope'rationsv the' reverse of those mentioned, and in this-respect, severalv of the folded gutter sections may be placed in between the stringers 4-4 and 5-5 of the various sections. So that the sections may be arranged for storage in but a small space, we provide even numbers of them at diametrically opposite corners on their bottom sides with loops 58-58 to receive studs 59 in the other diametrically opposite corners, as are shown in Fig. 13. Thus two sections may be arranged bottom to bottom with the shorter or smaller parts of the alley as a whole in the spaces between the stringers of the sections, as is apparent.

Our alley as described, may b e quickly set up for play Without the aid of toolsof any kind and may be as quickly knocked down for storage.

When set up, the same provides a true, even, rigid alley upon which bowling may be enjoyed to the utmost. Such'a structureis rigidly braced against warping due to temperature changes. Again, such an alley permits' enjoyment of the game out in the open such -as in the yard of a home or residence and may be adjusted for even--l ness despite the unevenness of the turf upon which it is set up.

support.

having meeting" ends,each with a cross member n thereon, a deviceon each cross member having a part adapted to Noverlap a like part in the other device of an adjacent alley section end, said parts having openings therein which register when said parts are so overlapped, a support for said meeting ends vadapted to be initiallydisposed', longitudinally of'said sectionsand then turned Vtransversely'thereo, anda ,double cam member carried by said support and operatingthrough the regis-` tering openings inthe overlapped ,parts ofl said deviceson saidcross members for drawing'and lockingsaid vmeeting endstightly together.

2. In combination with abowling alley, a support therefor, a gutter along one side of the alley and comprising l sections arranged end to end, means on one rendof one section for engaging the support .uponaA lateral movementof said lend of said Aone section and'means on the associated end of tne other section adapted for engage` ment with said means on the first section aswell as with said supportto lock` said `ends .together and to said support.

3. ln combination with a bowling alley, a support therefonhavin'ga.part'extending to one side oi said alley and which Apart has an opening therein,A a'gutter along said side of the alley and comprising sections arranged end to end, means in one end of one sectionadapted for engagement in said openingy upon 5a. downwardl `and lateral movement of said end ofsaid sectionwith respect to said support and meansfon the associated lend of the'other section adapted for engagement with said means `on Athe rst sectionas Well as for engagement in said opening in'said support toY lock said sections togetlfierk and to said 4. In combination' with abovvling alley comprisling a plurality of sectionsarranged endlto end, a-supporting memberior ,the meeting end of ad- -jacent sections and extending at one end'beyond one side.v of the alley, a gutteralong said side o f ter section adapted upon a' lateral inward move--l mentor said gutter section end for engagement withf'said end.Y of said support and means on the associated Vend of an adjacent gutter section adapted also' for engagement with said end of said support for locking both gutter section ends together and'to said end of said support. I

n 5. `In' combinationwitha bowling alley coinprising` a' plurality of sections arranged kendl to end, asupportinjg member for the meeting end of adjacent sectionsandextending at one end beyond one side, oithe'alley, and which end of said support has an opening therein, a gutter along said 'side or" theialleyfand comprising gut;-

terk sections arranged" end to Tend, means carried on onenend of -one gutter'se'ction adapted upon a lateral movement in'one directionupon said 'end of said support, to be engaged in the opening therein and 4means on the associated end of the next adjacentfgutter section adapted to be entered into" said vopening vto lock both ends of said gutter sections together and to said support. 6.' A gutter. for a bowling 'alley'A including gutter sections arranged end' to end, ya support.' for the meeting ends of twoadjacent sections and having an opening therein, Va'laterally extending hook at one end of one ofsaid 'secticnsand a longitudinally extending iinger yon the other end of the other section, said hook and iinger'being insertable into saidA opening in said support to se-` cure said meeting ends or said sections thereto.

7. A bowling alley comprising a plurality of alley sections adapted to meet end to end, intere'ngaging cross members on said alley'section ends, supportingv means for saidalley section ends, a cam 'element 'on AsaidV supporting means, and overlapping devices on said interengaging cross members, said supporting means being adapted to beinitially'disposed longitudinally of saidr sections so as to bringsaid cam element into partial operativeV engagement with said overlapping devices, said cam upon a turning of the supporting means into va'prosition extending transversely of the alleysection ends, operating Yupon said overlapping devicesv to draw said alleysection'ends bers `to,getljier perpendicularly.tA`

JAMES, R. JoHNsEN'. y

AXEL'OLFORT.

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