US2321553A - Robot bowling device - Google Patents

Description

Julie 8, 1943.

I. H. M FALLS ROBOT BOWLING DEVICE Filed Dec. 2, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VENTCR.

865 61 if, [kw/vs HMaF/ms @HYTORNEY Jun s, 1943. I. H. MbFALLS 3 2,321,553

ROBOT BOWLING DEVICE Filed Dec. 2, 194g 2 Sheets-Shea; 2

5 INVENTOR.

' JRV/NE HMaFHLLs @ATTOPNEY Patented June 8, 1943 l ROBOT BOWLING DEVICE Irving H. lVlcFalls, Mount Vernon, N. I, assignor to FrankBloise, New York, N. Y.

Application December 2, 1940, Serial No. 368,154

3 Claims.

This invention relates to amechanical automaton, particularly to an automatic robot bowling device, that may be used in combination with miniature bowling alley-table for amusement p1aces,.or for home use.

The main object of this invention, is the automatic robot device which is so constructed as to imitate the form and motion of a person bowling, the form design being the general appearance of mechanical robot figures, and is provided aprojector mechanism such as a movable pivotal arm normally held under spring tension abutting a stationary stop, but when pulled back by manual means after a miniature bowling ball has been placed onto an extended finger at the lower part of the inner lever member, it increases in tension so that when the arm is released by the manual means, it rebounds against the stationary stop, and in doing so creates a hammerlike blow thereon, suificiently to liberate the ball from its finger holding position to catapult the ball onto the floor of the miniature bowling alley provided upon a folding or fixed table, at one end having the standing pins that are to be. bowled over, the usual tabulation of strikes,- spares and score being kept as in any real bowling game of the large standard alleys.

Another important feature of this invention, is the miniature bowling ball and the attaching means to the movablepivotal arm of the robot,

in which an inner tubing member or tubular bushing is firmly secured into the bored portion of the ball, this tubular bushing providing wearable and precise means to seat the ball onto the finger member of the movable pivotal arm, the

shape of the finger member being made of an elongated looped wire. that provides a three point suspension for a yielding wedged fit into tubular bushing of the ball which is balanced. ina three point suspension thereon, for the correct catapult delivery therefrom.

Another important feature of this invention, is the turntable provided for turning the robot and its bowling arm slightly for the desired ball rielivery, this turntable being arranged preferably on the right side portion of the bowling floor,

through which an upright support or stanchion, is secured in a swivel joint, the robot and bowling arm being integrally secured onto said upright support or stanchion, to which a rodhandle having a bowling ball miniature is attached, which the player operates slightly to the left or right for the desired catapult delivery of the ball.

Another important feature of this invention,

is the adaptation of a unique concession design, wherewith a colorful design of the robot bowler is lighted up by electric lights, and the pivotal arm is moved back and forth showing ball delivery.

Other features of this invention will appear as the description proceeds in the following specification, accompanied by the annexed drawings, in which Figure l-is an elevational view of the right side of the robot device which shows the movable pivotal'arm that catapults the bowling ball therefrom.

Figure 2 is asimilar view, showing the same pivotal arm having the miniature bowling ball seated onto the yielding finger member extending from the lowermost portion of the pivotal arm pulled-back to deliver its hammer-like blow against the stop pin for catapulting the ball therefrom as shown'in dot-dash lines.

Figure 3 is a plan view of Figure 1 or Figure 2 of the device in itsinoperative position.

Figure 4 is an enlarged transverse sectional View on line 4-4 of Figure 2, showing in detail the wire made finger that allows a wedging fit of the tubular bushing formed integrally with the miniature bowling ball.

Figure 5 is an elevational view of the left arm side of the robot device shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, 6 and 7.

Figure 6 is a front view in elevation of the same robot, device.

Figure '7 is a rear ,elevational view with the cover plate removed, disclosing the inner mechanism within the main housing member formns, the robot design.

Figure 8 is a longitudinal sectional view on a reducfidsg-ale of the bowling table, preferably of a folding type, upon which the robot device of this invention forms a combination therewith for b wling.

Figure 91s a plan view of the same bowling tab e sh wn in Fi re 8.

li'igure 10is asimilar plan view showing a plurality of bowling tables arranged in formation of three or more, for use for park or resort concessions,

Figure 11 is a cross-sectional View on line H--li of Figure 4.

Figure l2 is a modification of the pull rod as shown in Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral l indicates the floor of va bowling table T, onto which is mounted a robot device R, comprising a stanchion-or an upright support 2 having a threaded end inserted into a hole 3 of the floor and secured by locknuts 4 and 5 and washers 6, all of which form a swivel joint. The stanchion extends upwardly in a slight curved angle that provides a stooping position of the robot figure R, the curved portion 1 terminating into a free end portion 8 provided with a bore 9 through which is inserted the end 16 of the bell-crank lever II, this being done when the end It] is straight as shown in dotdasl1 lines at [6a, thence is bent down as shown in full lines, so as to firmly secure same into place by means of a coil spring 12 secured at 3 with the other end secured at [4 to the pin l5 fixed into the end 8 of the stanchion 2.

The above mechanism is enclosed by a front housing member 2!] having a square-like head 2 l, neck 2!, semi-octagonal belly 22, sides 23 and 24, leg 25 and foot 26. A right angle pin 21 has one end secured into the hole 28 of the right side 24 of the robot housing 28, and further secured and keyed at 29 through the hole 29a of the vertical portion of the stanchion 2. The belly portion 22 of the housing 25 has an extended bolt or spacer 30 secured thereto by a screw 32, which is further secured to the inclined portion 8 by nuts 3|, which together with the pin 21 forms a firm and rigid assembly of the housing 26 to the stanchion or floor support 2.

A square-like arm member is slidable onto the long lever end Ha of the bell-crank H, and extends beyond the member 35 so as to provide for the projecting finger member 36, which is formed of a wire having ends turned up at 36a, into the space in between the lever end Ila. and arm member 35 which is bored out to receive the above assembly, in which the ends of the finger member 36 provide a wedging fit therewith. A handle-bar 4| is secured to a pull rod or wire 40 which extends to a hook anchorage at 40b to end Ila, the wire operating within an open bore 400 of the sleeve member 40a secured into the arm member 35 which is out out at 42 so that the lever end Ila will contact the stop pin 2'! during the hammer-like blow thereon, later to be explained in operation.

A miniature bowling ball 5!] is secured to the end of a steering handle 5| fixed to the vertical lower portion of the stanchion 2, in order to oscillate the robot and its bowling arm 35 and lever end Ila, either left or right, which will be very slight, when picking off the remains of a spare after the first ball missed a strike.

A square-like arm 4'! is provided on the left side 23 of the robot housing 26, which is formed integrally therewith or may be attached thereto, this being optionally. A cover plate 43 is adaptable to be attached and removed from the main housin 20, as by screws 45, 46 secured into lug portions 48 and 49, thereby enclosing all of the operatin mechanism that operates the bowling arm 35 and lever end I la, and the finger member 36 for catapulting the ball D during the bowling game.

In Figures 8 and 9, a folding type of a bowling table T having the floor I, hereinbefore described in detail, is provided with runways or gutters 60, 5|, pit 62, side walls 63, 64, high side and end boards, 65, 66, and 61, the latter being covered with felt, or the like, as at 68, for the miniature bowling pins P to strike onto with the least possible sound. The table T is provided with legs 69 hinged at 69a, which are held in their extended position as shown by hook bars or levers H3 inserted into small holes in the cross members 'H in between each pair of legs 69, 69. The legs and hook members are also shown in their collapsible or folded position as shown in dot-dash lines, and the high boards 65, 66 and 61 may also be folded similarly, this being optionally.

In Figure 10, a plurality of fixed bowling tables T are shown, and have the same bowling equipment as shown in Figures 8 and 9, with the robot R in each floor alley. This plurality may be three or four adjoining tables or alleys, and are used for concession places in resorts or other places, where 2 throws of the bowling ball B for a stipulated sum of 5 or 10 cents will allow for a prize for strikes or spares.

In operation, the player pulls back the pull rod 46 by the fingers onto the handle bar 4 l, as shown in dot-dash form of Figure 2, and as the player releases the finger hold on the handle bar M, as also shown in the horizontal position of the dotdash lines, the arm 35 and lever end I la actuates towards the stop pin 27, thereby delivering a hammer-like or tappet blow against the pin 21, thus this action liberates the ball B from its seated position onto the finger member 36, and catapults the ball in the direction of the bowling pins P at the far end of the alley-floor I, if a strike has been made by knocking down all 10 pins with the first ball, then a spare for the second ball totals same is in the regular bowling game, but if a strike is not made by the first ball catapulted, then the second ball to be bowled, must be directed in the right direction towards the remaining standing pins, in which the steering handle 5| is operated slightly so the robot and ball is moved accordingly by the swivel action of the turntable arrangement of the stanchion 2 onto the floor I, in this steering handle operation the spare or remaining pins standing may be bowled over. The usual block of 10 frames constitutes a full bowling game, and the tabulation of the scoring is kept the same as a regular bowling game upon the full size standard alleys.

The approximate size of the table is 5 feet to 6 feet, the width 12 inches over all, with a runr way on each side of the bowling fioor of about 6 inches depth which terminates into the end pit at the pin end of the floor-alley whereat the high sided and end boards rise about 2 feet higher than the side rails 63 and 64 of the tables T and 63' and 64' of the table T. The ball is about one and one-half inches in diameter and the pins about 3 inches in height, the ball being designated by the letter B and the pins by the letter P.

The ball is made of solid wood with a metallic bushing 60 which is tubular, so as to allow the seating of the ball onto the wire finger member 36 of the bowling arm 35 and lever end Ha, this finger member being formed that with the upturned looped end 36b, which is tapered converging from the larger width adjacent its fixed position onto the lever end Ila, and forms a three point wedging and suspension of the ball B when seated thereon, the yielding side wire portions of the larger width portion of the finger member 36 contacts the inner circular part of the tubular bushing 80, clearly shown in Figures 2 and 4, the three point contacts being designated at 82, 83 and 84.

The robot R as shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 and 7 is about one half of the actual size, but it is to be understood that the size may vary in proportion to size of the bowling alley used in combination with the robot bowler R, as in use for concessions, the table is about eight feet long, and the robot device R about 9 inches high, while in home use, the table length is about sixe feet, and the robot device about 6 inches high.

The inclining housing 20 which is supported onto the upright post-like stanchion 2, i also provided with a leg portionfifi and a foot 9 I. The housing 20 and cover plate 43 form a split joint at 43a and a cut out portion around'the pivotal arm H. I

It is to be further noted that when the bowling ball B is seated onto the finger member 36, that the inner bushing member 80 and the horizontal prong portions 36" of the finger member 36 are in parallel relation to each other, longitudinally, but in a transverse cross section form a three point suspension, a hereinbefore described, shown clearly in Figures 4 and 11.

In Figure 12, a miniature ball ila may be secured to the end of the pull rod 40, in place of the bar ii, if so desired, in order to adopt the bowling ball feature as much as possible.

It is to be understood that the drawings are merely illustrative, but are nevertheless a perfeet Working model, and in combination with table T, scores of over 200 have been made often. When the handle 5[ is turned very slightly, it is held firm by the fingers of the player contacting the floor I of the table to steady same when ball 13 is being catapulted. It has been found that the best position to deliver the ball is about one and one-half inches from the edge GM of the gutter or runway 6| (or Bil), and from this position the robot R is fixed permanently. However, if so desired, that the player would like to position the robot in any place across, the floor I, then the robot R and its supporting post-like stanchion may be shifted one way or the other across the floor to catapult the ball 13 as desired.

Similar parts will be designated by primed numerals of the original numeral, these primed numerals being in the alternative forms, such as for example, of the hinged table '1, and fixed table T.

It is to be understood that any alteration in the parts shown in the drawings and described hereinbefore, may be changed or improved to better same, just so same comes within the scope of the appended claims and the spirit of this invention.

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

1. In a bowling game device of the character described, a robot figure having a pivotal arm, the free end of which abuts a stop-in thereon,

said arm normally held under suitable spring action therewith, said free end having a finger member extending therefrom, said finger member being a flexible fine wire looped upwardly at its extreme end portion, whereby a miniature bowling ball with a hole therein, may be held onto said flexible wire by a three point suspension, means to draw back said arm under said action, and when released, said arm strikes against said stoppin, thereby catapulting said ball from its wire support onto the bowling floor in the direction of the standing pins thereon. v

2. In a bowling game device of the character described, a miniature robot figure and bowling alley, said robot figure provided with a pivotal arm having its free end normally abutting a stoppin therewith, the free end provided with a finger member, said finger member being a fine wire arranged in a looped manner in which the wire portions converge from its larger width to an upturned looped end thereof, whereby a miniature bowling ball with a hole therein, is seated and wedged thereon in a three point contact and suspension, suitable means to operate said arm whereby said arm is drawn backwardly under spring action and when released said arm strikes said stop-pin, thereby catapulting said ball from its wedged position and said three point contacts of said wire finger member, towards the miniature bowling pins in play therewith.

3. In a miniature bowling game device of the character described, a robot figure arranged onto the end of a miniature bowling alley, a pivotal arm provided onto said robot figure, said arm normally abutting a stop-pin therewith, said arm having a pull wire member extending therefrom, the lower free end of said arm provided with a wire finger member, said wire member having a larger width converging into an upturned looped end portion, whereat a miniature bowling ball having a hole therein, may be seatedonto said finger whereby the hole may contact only the larger width and upturned looped end of said wire finger member, said larger width yielding so as to provide a wedging fit for said hole and ball, said pull wire member being adapted to be operated to be operated by a player, whereby said arm is drawn backwardly under spring action, and when released, said arm strikes said stop-pin and catapults said ball from its wedged and seated position, in the direction towards miniature bowling pins at the other end of said alley.

IRVING H. MCFALLS.

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