US2528560A - Bowling pin elevating and resetting mechanism - Google Patents

Description

NOV. 7, 1950 STRONG 2,528,560

BOWLING PIN ELEVATING AND RESETTING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 9, '1949 2 Sheets-Sheet l Earl 6. Strong l I] IL. 1/ 1 "/1 I11 11 1/11/11 I F lg, 5. INVENTOR- Nov. 7, 1950 g E. G. STRONG 2,528,560

BOWLING PIN ELEVATING AND RESETTING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 9, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F/g.3. Fig.4. 34

xi f 32- U Fig.6.

c ar/ 6. Strong IN V EN TOR.

Patented Nov. 7, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BOWLING PIN ELEVATING AND RESETTIN G MECHANISM Earl G. Strong, Milan, Ohio Application February 9, 1949, Serial No. 75,432

4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to bowling pin elevating and re-setting mechanisms for bowling alleys, and has more particular reference to an improved mechanism whereby each bowling pin may be set and retained in a lowered operative position and automatically tripped and raised to an inoperative position out of the path of bowling balls rolled down the alley upon being struck by a previously rolled ball.

The present invention specifically relates to improvements upon the type of bowling pin elevating and re-setting mechanism shown in my U. S. Letters Patent No. 2,207,643, dated July 9, 1940.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism of the above kind which is very free or sensitive in action, so as to insure effiicent operation.

Another object is to provide means whereby the bowling pin will be substantially vertically disposed when in both lowered operative position and raised inoperative position.

Still another object is to provide a mechanism of the above kind which is simple and durable in construction, and which is composed of parts that are easy and economical to manufacture and assemble.

The exact nature of the present invention, as well as more specific objects and features thereof, will become apparent from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of a supporting frame provided with bowling pinelevating and re-setting mechanisms constructed in accordance with the present invention, the bowling pins being in lowered operative position;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the construction shown in Figure 1, with one of the bowling pins in raised inoperative position;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section, partly broken away, showing one of the bowling pin elevating and re-setting mechanisms mainli in side elevation, with the bowling pin illustrated in lowered operative or set position by full lines and in raised inoperative position by dotted lines;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view, partly in front elevation and partly in section, of the construction shown in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a horizontal section taken on the line 55 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 showing the position of parts immediately before the upper section of the bowling pin rod is moved to position the pivotal connection between the same and the plunger rearwardly past dead center to retain the bowling pin in lowered operative or set position.

Referring in detail to the drawings, A indicates an elevated horizontal supporting frame composed of substantially similar upper and lower sections 5 and 6 rigidly connected as at I in spaced parallel relation, and respectively composed of rearwardly diverging angle iron Side members 8 and 9 rigidly connected by spaced transverse angle iron bars I0 and II disposed in parallel rela tion. The bars l0 and II are arranged in pairs, one above the other, and each pair thereof carries one or more bowling pin elevating and re-setting mechanisms. As these mechanisms are alike, description of one will suffice.

As shown more clearly in Figures 3 to 6 inclusive, each mechanism includes a bowling pin rod composed of an upper section I2 having a socket I3 rigidly secured on its lower end, and a lower section I4 having its upper end pivoted at -I5 within said socket to freely swing forwardly and rearwardly. The socket I3 is cut away at the front as at I6 so as to define a rear lip I! which limits rearward movement of section I4 to a point wherein the latter is nearly aligned with the section I2, but permits said section I4 to remainvertical by assuming an angular relation to the section I2 when the latter is swung rearwardly and upwardly to .a nearly horizontal rearwardly inclined position as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The lower portion ofrod section I4 extends through a bowling pin I8 which is suitably secured thereon. The bar I I has a wide slot I9 in and opening through the'front edge of its horie zontal flange, and disposed within the slot is the ring member 20 of a universal joint. The upper portion of rod section I2 extends freely through and is mounted in the ring member 20 upon a pin 2I for limited lateral swinging and forward and rearward sliding movements. The ring member 20 is pivotally mounted on bar II by means of pins 22 engaged in bearing blocks 23 bolted at 24 to the horizontal flange of bar I I at opposite sides of slot I9, so as to permit forward and rearward swinging of rod section I2. Below the universal joint, the rod section I2 extends through the slot I 25 of an angular guide and stop bracket 26 flange of bar Ill. As shown, the collar is mounted Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is: I 1. In combination with a bowling alley, a supporting frame mounted above the pin bed of the alley, said frame includin spaced upper and lower transverse bars, a bowling pin rod comare adjustable to secure proper alignment and working of the parts. Thearrangementiseuch that when the member 3! is pulled rearwardly, the rod section I2 is swung downwardly and forwardly from the dotted line position of 8 to a Vertical position, at which time said rodsecposed of an upper rod section, a socket secured on ,the lower'endof said upper rod" section and having a rear depending lip, and 'a' lower rod section having its upper end pivoted in said socket to freely swing forwardly and rearwardly from and to said lip,'a bowling pin secured on the lower portion of said lower rod section, a ring member pivoted on the lower bar to tilt about a hori.-' zontalaxis transverse to the alley, the upper por- 1 tion of the lower rod section extendin through tion I2 is aligned with the'pivot at 21 and the stem '29 and is engaged with the bracket 26 at the lower end of slot 25'. Thus, if the pull on member 37 is continued; the upper end of rod section I2 is moved slightly rearward from the vertical position and caused to slide rearwardly on the pin 2i from the position of Figure 6 to that of Figure 5, the rod section I2 rocking on the" bracket 26 at the lower end of slot 25 so as to cause the pivot at 21 to move rearwardly past dead center as shown. by full lines in Figure 3,

Due'to the downwardpressure of spring 35, the 7 rod section I2 is held in this position with the bowling pin I8 set in a vertical lowered position upon the floor of the bowling alley. When the rod section I2 is swung forwardly, it is centered laterally by the tapered form of'the lower portion of slot 25, and the rod section M gravitates to remain in a vertioalp'osition soas to be contacted by lip l1. Should the set pin i8v be struck by a bowling ball, the rod sections I2 and It will be swung rearwardly and upwardly as a unit, due to engagement of rod section Id with lip Il, until the pivot at 2'! is moved forwardly past dead' center. The spring will then quickly force the plunger 28, 29 downwardly to accelerate the rearward and upward movement of rod section I2 said ring member and mounted in the latter for lateral swinging and forward and rearward sliding movements, a collar pivoted on the upper bar toitilt about a horizontal axis transverse to the alley, a plunger including a stem slidable through said collar and aforked head on'the lower end of said stem having the upper end of the up er, rod section pivoted therein upon atransverse a'Xis,'a helical compression spring disposed on the stem between the collar and the plunger head and acting to force the plunger downwardl and swing the upper rod section to raise the bowling pin to an inoperative position when the pivotal and quickly elevate the pin I8 .to an inoperative position abovethe path'of any bowling balls subsequently rolled down the alley. The pivot pins 22 are movable in bearing blocks 23 to allow lateral movement of ring member 20, and due to the tilting movement of rod section I2 on pin 2 I "and its lateral movement onthe pivot 21, the bowling pin 58 is allowed limited lateral movement that permits it to strike neighboring bowling pins as the rod section I2 swings up" to the wider portion of slot 25;"As therod section l2 'continues 1:

to 'swingupwardly; it is centered laterally by the i of bowling balls rolled down the alley' A loop 3'1 is connected to the endsof pivot 21 and adapted 'for connection with means for simultaneously resetting all of the raised bowling pins, as generally disclosed in my above mentioned patent;

From the foregoing description, it is believed that the construction, operation and advantages of the present invention will be readily understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art. Modifications and changes in details of construction are contemplated, such as fairly fall within'the spirit and scope-ofthe' invention as claimed. 1

connection between the upper rod section and the plunger head is moved forwardly past dead center and toretain the rod and pin in a vertical lowered position when said pivotal connection is moved rearwardly past dead center, and a slotted guide and stop bracket carried by the lower bar and having the upper rod section passing therethrough below the ring member, the lower end wall of the slot of said bracket acting as a fulcrum about which the upper rod section rocks to slide the .upper end of the same rearwardly relative to the ring member as said pivotal connection moves rearwardly past dead center.

2 .-The combination defined in claim 1, wherein said bars have horizontal flanges provided with slots within which the ring memberand collar are disposed, the pivotal mounting of thering member and collar including bearing blocks adjustably mounted on-said flanges at opposite sides of said slots, and pivot pins carried by the ring member and collar and engaged in said bearing blocks. l I I 3. The combination defined in claim Lin-combination with a member-connected to said pivotal connection and operableto' move the latter rear wardly past dead'center. a

4. The combination defined in claim 1, wherein the upper end of the upper rodsection is mounted in the plunger head for movement laterally of the plunger'head, and wherein the slot of said guidebracketi s tapered to its ends and of a width between its ends to allow lateral swinging,

of said upper rod section as it swings rearwardly;

and upwardly torais'etlie bowling pin. I EARL G. STRONG.

I REFERENCES orrnn v V a I The following referenfcesareof record in the file of this patent: I UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 764,185 Ferland July, 5, 190e 789,394 Thompson et al. May 9, 1905 2,207,643 Strong July 9, 19 0 2,348,540 Hedenskoog- May 9-; 1944

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