US2144975A - Device for indicating results of bowling games - Google Patents

Description

J. L. HUNOLD Jan. 24, 1939.

DEVICE FOR INDIGATING RESULTS OF BOWLING GAMES Filed July 21, 1937 o o 0-Z7 Patented Jan. 24, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE James L. Hunold, Mendham, N. 1., asslgnor to Julius Braun, ark, N. J.

Linden, and Archie Kass, New- Application July 21, 1937, Serial No. 154,738

This invention relates to bowling games; and more particularly to means for automatically indicating the results in such games.

As is well known, in a bowling game, the frequent resetting of the pins is a source of annoyance. Heretofore, there have been devised devices for automatically resetting the pins in a bowling game. However, such devices merely reset the pins, but in no way indicated which pins had been knocked down by the bowler; and consequently when the automatic resetting device is used, considerable of the features of the bowling game was sacrificed.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide in combination with an automatic pin resetting device, means for automatically indicating the various pins which have been knocked down by a bowler.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a circuit closing device which can be effectively used for automatically indicating results in any kind of game or contrivance.

These and other advantageous objects, which will later appear, are accomplished by the simple and practical construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and exhibited in the accompanying drawing, forming part hereof, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a bowling pin with resetting device and wiring for indicating results,

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 of a modification of the invention, and

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of means for indicating results in a bowling game.

Referring to the drawing, in Fig. 1 there is shown a bowling pin ll, resting upon a base l2, having an aperture l3 through which passes a core I! of an electromagnet I 5 attached to the underside of the base I2. The pin II has attached to the underside thereof a metal plate It having a plug ll extending up into the pin. Attached to the plug I1 is a metal wire l3 which passes over a metal pulley is, which is constantly urged to rotate counter-clockwise by spring mechanism of the shade roller type, or other mechanisms heretofore employed in resetting bowling pins. The pulley I9 is provided with a hub 20, which constantly engages a contact brush 2|, connected to a relay 22.

As will be seen from the wiring diagram, an electrical circuit is completed through pulley l9, wire it, plug ll, core I, to the source of power 23. When the pin II is in position on the base l2 as shown in Fig. 1, the circuit is closed and relay 22 energized to attract contact 23 from engagement with contact 24, thus maintaining open a circuit through an indicator lamp 25. When pin H is knocked down, the circuit through relay 22 is broken, allowing engagement of contacts 23 and 24 and closing the circuit through indicator 25.

In Fig. 3 is shown an indicator with a plurality of lamps 21 arranged in the same order as the pins II are arranged on the base l2, and when the lamps 21 are lighted, a player can readily determine the result of his bowling.

In Fig. 2 is shown a modified form of the invention in which a pin 30 has a wire 3| attached thereto. The pin is maintained upright by an electromagnet 33 having a core 32 as described in connection with Fig. 1. The wire 3| passes over a metal pulley 34, having a hub 35 of insulating material provided with a metal segment 36, engaging brushes '31, which close a circuit through an indicator lamp 38.

When the pin 30 is knocked down, contact with the core 32 is broken and the winding mechanism in the pulley 34 will draw the pin upward. As the pulley rotates, the segment 36 will intermittently engage the brushes 31 and will cause an intermittent flashing of the lamp 38.

From the above description it will be seen that there has been provided relatively simple and effective means for closing an electrical circuit through lamps in order to indicate the results of a bowling game or similar games and contrivances. While this invention has been speciflcially described in connection with a bowling game provided with an automatic resetting device, it is obvious that it can be well applied to other games without materially departing from the scope of the invention.

The foregoing disclosure is to be regarded as descriptive and illustrative only, and not as restrictive or limitative of the invention, of which obviously embodiments may be considered including many modifications without departing from the scope herein indicated and denoted in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a bowling game, a base, a bowling pin supported in upright position on said base, said pin having a metal plate attached to the bottom thereof, an electromagnet mounted on the underside of said base and arranged to maintain the pin in an upright position when energized, a core for said electromagnet adapted to make an electrical connection with said plate, a metal pulley mounted above said pin, an electrical conducting wire attached to said plate and passing through the pin and over said pulley, a normally closed switch, a relay adapted to hold said switch' open, means for connecting the relay to the pulley, said electromagnet being connected to a source of power, said relay being in circuit with the core of the magnet and connected to a source of power, means for winding said wire on the pulley when the pin is dislodged from the base, and an incandescent lamp, said switch closing a circuit through said lamp when the relay is deenergized by the breaking of the circuit therethrough resulting from the breaking of contact between said plate and core.

2. In a bowling game, a base, a bowling pin supported in upright position on said base, said pin having a metal plate attached thereto, an electromagnet mounted'on the underside of said base and arranged to maintain the pin in an upright position when energized, a core for said electromagnet adapted to make an electrical connection with said plate, a pulley mounted above said pin, an electrical conducting wire attached to said plate and passing over said pulley, a normally closed switch, a relay adapted to hold said switch open, said electromagnet being connected to a source of power, said relay being in circuit with the core of the magnet and connected to a source of power, means for winding said wire on the pulley when the pin is dislodged from the base, and an indicating device, said switch closing the circuit through said indicating device when the relay is deenergized by the breaking of a circuit therethrough resulting from the breaking of contact between said plate and core.

3. In a bowling game, a base, a bowling pin supported in upright position on said base, said pin having a metal plate attached to the bdttom thereof, an electromagnet mounted on the underside of said base and arranged to maintain the pin in an upright position when energized, a core for said electromagnet adapted to make an electrical connection with said plate, a metal pulley mounted above said pin, an electrical conducting wire attached to said plate and passing over said pulley, a normally closed switch, a relay adapted to hold said switch open, said pulley having a metal hub, a contact brush constantly engaging said hub and connecting the relay to JAMES L. HUNOI D.

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