US2650095A - Foul detecting device - Google Patents

Description

g- 1953 J. A. M QLAGAN ET AL FOUL DETECTING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 28, 1947 Aug. 25, 1953 J. A. M LAeAN ETAL FOUL DETECTING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed.May 28, 1947 Patented Aug. 25, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOUL DETECTING DEVICE Application'MayZS, 1947, Serial No. 751,082

11 Glaims.

:1 The present invention relates generally to-signal devices and'morerparticularly to :foul detecting means for games and recreational contests such as bowling, andconstitutesa continuationin-part of our Patent No 2,425,255.

The present invention is illustrated by Way of example as an automatic foul detecting device for bowlingalleys to operate-or trigger the operation of equipment-installedupon the alley, such as lights, *foul signals, pin setters, score keepers, warning devices-and penalizers, or the like, which are used during theplay of thegame.

The gameof bowling is played on an .alleyhaving a'runway'for players and a hallway for handling a ball put into play bythe players. A foul line defines or separates the two ways, and'when delivering a ball across the foul line a player is not permitted to touch the foul line or the ballway with any part of his body. Furthermore, no

limbor appendage of his bodymay overhang the foul line while-it is also in contact with the runway without afoul being deemed to have been committed.

The pins-to be-knocked down by a ball are set in a triangular pattern near the far end of the hallway, and as apart of -the'alley,a pit is pro- "vided beyond the pins to catch the ball and any pins it knocks down.

There'are ten -frames'to-a-game for each player, and in each frame the player is permitted to throw two ballsinan endeavor to knock down all of the .pins. The number of pins knocked down in each-frame is added, according to certain scoring rules, to the number in the other frames to .make the total score for the game, and the penalty for committing afoul is the loss in'the total score of the pins knocked down by-the ball which was thrown when the foul was committed and also the loss of the ballgth-rown.

This .is significant because each frame starts with all the pins setup on the alley, andif a foul is committed on the-first ball delivered in any frame, all the pins'knocked down but not scored are set up again on the alley for the second ball. Consequently, the resetting of all of the pins will take placeeach time a foul is committed, and a foul signal is generally provided which not only instructsa pin boy to' reset the pins but also informs (the player that a reset is beingmade. Because of this resetting of allthe pins on the hallway following each foul committed, players have upon occasion yielded to the temptation to commit an intentional foul if they discover in time to do so that the ,first .ball

leaves or will leave a diificult play for them on .2 their second ball. The odds on being able to knock down all the pins on ,one ball are much greater than the odds on being able to pick 1111 on "the second throw two widely Spaced pins, referred toin howling parlance as va fsp1i -.0.r railroad.

In this connection, equipment has beenqemployedfor many years to assist'in resetting {the pins, namely, a ,foul signal and a .pin rackwhich is loaded by :a :pin boy. Whenever :a foul is detected and signalled, the pin boy lowers the rack to flip the pins into place :on the hallway.

If the pin setting rack isoperated-by a prime mover to lower .the pins andyset them in place on the alley its action can'be initiated ortriggered .directly with the foul signal impulse or it can be initiated in conjunction'with the foul signal by an automatic foul detector or by .a humanfoul judge'himself. 'Theend result :would be the same as that which would occur witha pin boy who operates the rack byihand :forthe same purpose when'informed-of the commission of a foul by an automatic foul-detector or human -foul judge.

However, not all fouls committed when railroads are left are unintentional fouls, and in the-present'invention one of the objects is to'provide an improved foul detecting device which prevents the sly intentional commission-of a foul to bring about unfairly a resettingof the pins by hand or automatic racks.

A further object'of'the invention'is to-provide an improved foul detecting device which distinguishes between a delayed sly movement of a foot upon'or overthe foul line and a 'movement wherein the player cannot prevent falling over the foul line.

Another object ofthe invention is to determine in relationship to the play of the'ballthe periods of time with-in which infractions of the rules of play will be consideredinvoluntary fouls on different areaways of the alley. V Aiurther object of the invention is to provide a foul detecting device which removes 'from the conjecture of observers the character of infractions of r les of play Where the ques ionof .intention is notrclear, and provide oontinuing foul detection for those infractions where the intention of the player is clearly discernible.

A further .Qbjec of the nvention is .to remove from foul det ction within a predetermined period of time aftertheball has been delivered the devices which detect fouls that are generally committeglby the time the ball has reached the ,pitand. continue for a predetermined time there- 3 after the detection of fouls which are delayed and generally involve the loss of balance.

Another object of the invention is to provide a compact and simple unit of equipment which is inexpensive to manufacture and maintain and can be readily installed upon a bowling alley and serviced easily from time to time as required.

These being among the objects of the present invention other and further objects will become apparent from the drawings, the description relating thereto and the appended claims.

Referring now to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section taken longitudinally through a bowling alley indicating the arrangement and preferred construction of the interlocked devices that detect and disclose infractions of the rules of play;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view taken from above the alley, of the alley shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatical showing of a photoelectric control system employed to detect infractions of rules of play at and beyond the foul line;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatical showing of a modifled photoelectric control system to detect infractions of rules of play at and beyond the foul line; Fig. 5 is a preferred form of the photoelectric control system to detect infractions of rules of play at and beyond the foul line; and,

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatical detailed showing of -a typical photoelectric control employed in the embodiment shown in Fig. 5.

Reference is hereby made to our Patent No. 2,425,255 of which this application is a continuation in part and to the disclosure and descrip tion therein which is hereby incorporated herein to show other embodiments of the invention and for a better understanding of the presently disclosed improvements.

Referring now to the drawings more specifically, the bowling alley indicated at I comprises a bed II divided by a foul line I2 into a runway I3 upon one side and a varnished portion or ballway I4 upon the other side over which the ball I travels to reach and strike the bowling pins that are set up on the far end of the alley. Along both sides of the hallway, the alley I0 is bounded by gutters I1 and the gutters by rails 58, each rail separating adjacent alleys. one from another where more than one alley is installed. At the ends of the rails I8 that are adjacent the foul line I2, the rails are cut away as at to receive a box 2| in which are mounted the light sources for the light beams for one alley and, shielded therefrom, the two photoelectric cells for an adjacent alley, and also preferably, the circuits which are employed to detect infractions of rules of play at the foul line.

More particularly, as shown in Fig. 1, two

beams of light are arranged one above the other for each alley at the foul line I2. The top beam .23 is located where it is interrupted by a ball ap- "proaching the foul line before the lower beam 24 is interrupted, and is the last of the two beams to be reestablished as the ball rolls beyond the foul'line, it being impossible thereby to interon the opposite side of the alley.

Furthermore, if desired, a trip beam device 25 may be employed down the alley a short way to 'control a normally closed switch 26 that is held open by energization of a relay 53a to prevent registering an infraction of the rules of play as a foul unless the ball is released to pass down the alley. Interruptance of the beam of the device 25 operates to close the switch 26 by means of a circuit described in further detail hereinafter in connection with Fig. 3.

Furthermore, another circuit similar to that controlled by the beam 25, which will also be described later, may be controlled by a beam device 21 located just in front of the pins IE to open a normally closed switch 28 (Fig. 3) held closed by energization of the relay 531). This switch is permitted to open when a ball passes that point to prevent a player from committing an intentional foul when he sees that the ball has struck the pins and left them in such a way as to provide the player with a difficult second try. The photoelectric controls 25 and .21 and the operaion of the switches 26 and 28 will be described further in their relation to the light beams 23 and 24, it being understood that the photoelectric controls 25 and 2'! can be dispensed with in any installation if the results accomplished by them are not desired by the alley owner. Referring now to Fig. 3 a foul signal lamp 4I is connected in parallel with any other form of alarm desired that is connected to the terminals I5I. are connected in series with the normally open switches 44 of a normally deenergized relay 45 for automatic operation. Relay 45 has a selfsustaining circuit I01 connected to one of the contacts of a switch 44 to energize the relay 45 and close the switches 44 controlled thereby until such time as a normally closed bimetal timing switch 41 breaks after being heated by a heater unit 48.

The relay 45 is powered from the current source 42, through a conductor I00, normally open switch 55, a conductor IOI, normally closed switch 28, conductor I02, the coil of the relay 45, conductor I03, a normally closed switch 52, conductors I04 and I05, normally closed switch 47, and conductor I06. The relay 45, once actuated, closes the switches 44, after which the 25, and conductors I05 and I05 as controlled by the timer switch 4?.

The normally closed relay switch 26 is held open by the coil 5311 as described in connection with the trip beam 25 located where it will detect the release of the ball. The switch 26 is disposed preferably in the foul signal circuit 45 so that it does not interfere with the action of the relay 45, but rather cooperates with its action, being in series with the upper switch 44 thereof.

The lamp 4| and terminals I51 aesogoes the ball clears the beam 23. The lower beam relay 5| is instantly responsive toslight-or partial-interruptance of'the beam 24. Until-the beam of light energizing device 2-! has been interrupted the relay 45 may-be closed by the interruptance of the beam zl-alone andheld-closed by thetimer switch 41. Then when-the ball l5trips the beam 25, signifying that it has been released and put into play, the switch closes and operates a signal lamp M to indicate that theinfraction interrupting the beam 24 was a foul. On-'the-other hand, if a foul has not been committed until after the ball interrupts the trip beam 25, closure of the switch 25 merely sets up the circuit controlled by the relay 45, and the "lower beam registers a foul if committed before the ball interrupts the beam 21.

Thus when a player advances to the foul'line I2 to place-a ball I-5-in play'bydelivering'itdown the alley in thedirection-of the pins I8, any infractions of the rules of play at thefoul line will be detected by the beam 26 and registered by the relay closing the switches 44 and sustain ing theclosure as timed by the duration-of the closed period of the timer switch 41. Whether the ball has been released before or after the infraction, the registry will be'establishedsince, if the ball interrupts a beam 23; the relay is released or locked out only'to-let the ball go through and, if the infraction takes place or continuesto exist after the ball has been released-the moment the'upper beam 23 is reestablished the relay 45 will be energized.

Energization of-the relay IE, however, doesnot sound the signal and indicate the foul immediately unless the beam 25 is dispensed with, in which case the foul-will be immediately indicated. If the beam '25 is employed in any particular installation, the recording of the foul will not be made until the beam 25 is interrupted and the switch 26 permitted to close.

The beam 25, when employed, is installed far enough down the alley that it is unlikely thata ball will be thrown overit and low enoughupon the alley to catch the ball rolling past it. Although it isdesirable tohave the beam 25 as close to the-foul lineas possible to apprisea player of his foul as soon as possible for .psychologica1 reasons, the distance that beam .25 is beyond the foul line is not critical so long as a slow moving ball will interrupt .it within the timing .period provided by the duration of the closed :position of the'timer switch 41. Thus a foul is registered and then indicated if a ball has been put into In order to prevent a player committing an intentional foul to better his chances on a second try or to prevent facetious fouling merely-to work the apparatus after the play of the ball has been completed, it is preferred that a beam 21 be located just in front of the pins to remove the foul detector from operation when or shortly after the ball has struck the pins I8.

Referring to Fig. 1,cascade beams I I I are provided over the hallway immediately beyond the foul line I2 to cover an area of abouttwo to four feet with the zig-zag beams suificiently close together that persons falling over the foulline, as when they lose their balance, will interrupt at least one of the beams. These beams, by way of example, originate with a light source at H2, and are projected, by lenses I I3 at a slight angle to the opposite side of the alley where a mirror II l catches the light and reflects the light'back to a second mirror H5, which mirror in turn redirects thelight to 'a' third mirror 'I- I 6,-from which 6. mirror the beamiis refiected again acrossthe'alley to a point I I I where it is picked '-.up by a photoelectric "cell l t-8 -(see Figs. 3, '4;and5). As many cascades as maybe desired can be provided in the mannerdescribed and the photoelectric cells I-I'8 can be connected in series :with thegrid circuit cf :the cascade amplifierindicatedat I20 in Figs. 3,:4.- and-5,:a representative form of another such-amplifier being shown inF-ig. 6.

The-amplifier circuit shown in Fig. 6 is built around the-R. -CPA. '11-7P '7 GT tube 'I2I of a heater cathodetypewhich combines inone bulb a half wave rectifier I22 and a beam power amplifier I23. The heater I24 Lisdes'ign'ed foruse directly across a 117 volt supply line' which can be either A. C. "or 135C. provided-the rectifier side of the filament such asthebinding post -'(-I) I 25 is connected to-thepositivesi'de I29 of theD. 'C. power leads, or the ground line I-I 9-of the A50. circuit is connected to the amplifier side of the heater 124 as atterminal 2'indicated at I26. A smoothing choke i2 is connected to thecathode of'the rectifier side-and both leads thereof are provided with smoothing condensers I28 leading to the ground line I I-9. If DC. current is to be used, the choke I2-I can be 'a-resistance'of such value that the voltage on the 13+ supply line indicated at Edd-will be-approximatelyvolts so that it will'not overloadthe photoelectric tube I I8.

A relay coil I3I is connected between a B+ line I39 and a plate I32 of the amplifier side I23-ofthe tube I 2 I. An anode I33ofthe photoelectriccell H8 is connected to the B+ line I30 while a cathode I34 thereof 'isconnected to the ground line I 19 through a "high resistance I35 of approximately"5 megohms to maintain a small current flow in the'photoelectric circuit. A coupling condenser 136 of approximately .01 'mfd. valueconnects thecathode I34 of the photoelectrio cell "to grid I 31 of the amplifier tube I23 whereby the-currentfiow through the relay I3I is eontrolled by the variation ofli-ght upon'the photoelectric cell II8 through bias of the grid I31. "In' this particular circuit the flow of relay energization current is maintained as long as there is light falling upon the photoelectric cell II8. When the beam-of light directed against the photoelectriccell I I8 is interrupted, the relay 1 3| is deener-gized.

Referring to' Fig. '5, the rectifier side of the tube 'I-2'I, for purposesofconvenience, is shown as a battery I 40, while the amplifier side of the tube I2I is indicated in a simplified-form as a triode-MI. The photocell 36 is the one responsive to the lower beam-at the foul line and the photocell 34 is the one responsive to the upper beam "at the foul line,like numerals referring to like parts throughout-theviews. The beam device 25 is the one located upon the alley approxiinthe pit.

The system shown in Fig. '5 is shown in the condition of energization prior to the time the -bal1-I5 is put into play over the foul line by a player on the runway I3. photoelectric relays are energized, namely, relay 53 for the upper beam 23, relay 5| for the lower In this condition, all

beam 26, relay 53a for the tripbeam 25, which has a -10-second hold after deenergization, relay "53b for the'cutout'beam -21, which has a delay hold-of approximately 8 seconds, andrelay I42 for the cascade beams. The upper beam relay 53 has two switches thereon, a normally closed one I 43 held open when the relay 53 is energized, and a normally open one I44 held closed when the relay is energized. The lower beam relay has one normally open switch I45 thereon held closed when energized. The cascade relay I42 has one normally closed switch I46 thereon held open when energized. The trip beam relay 5311 has a single pole double throw switch 200. thereon whose contact I48 is open and whose contact I4? is closed when energized, and the cutout relay 532) has one normally closed switch I55 which is held open by the relay when energized.

In connecting these relays in accordance with the preferred form of the invention, the signals 40, M and any other equipment which may be connected between the poles I5I is controlled by the cascade circuit A which includes the switch I46. The energization of the coil of the relay I42 controlling this switch is controlled by two circuits connected in parallel with each other, one indicated by the letter B, and the other indicated by the letter C. More particularly, one side of the relay I42 is connected to the power side of the battery I45 and the other side of the relay I42 is connected through the circuit B to the ground through the contact I41 of switch 200. The circuit C of the relay I42 runs through the switch I45, circuit C1 and switch I44 or, alternatively therewith, through circuit C2 which includes a normally open switch I54 of a relay I55 powered from a power pack I55 and provided with a condenser I51 of sufiicient value that when the power goes on, the relay will have approximately 2. l-second delay action before moving the switch I54 to its closed position and moving a second switch I58 to its open position.

Circuits C1 and 02 then converge as at I52, and circuit C continues through a foot actuated switch I66 located on top of the bowling alley rail I8 where a person stepping on the rail would open it. The other side of the switch I60 leads to the plate of the tube I thereby completing the second circuit C to ground under the control of the cascade photoelectric tubes H8.

The relay 5I is provided with a 3-second delay hold after deenergization and before energization thereof will operate to again close the switch I45. The coil thereof is under the control of the photoelectric cell through a plate circuit D of the tube I4I, and also, under the control of a circuit E having circuits E1 and E2 diverging at I5I'. One of these circuits, E1, includes the switch I58 and the switch I43. The other of these circuits E2 runs through the switch I50 of the cutout relay 53b.

Relay I55 is connected to the contact I48 and is under the control of the switch 200 through the circuit F.

In the operation of the circuit shown in Fig. 5, when a ball is thrown over the foul line l2 the beam to the cell 34 is the first to be interrupted and the last to be released of the two foul line beams to the cells 34 and 36. When the top beam to photocell 34 is interrupted, switch I43 is closed and circuit E and E1 sustains energization of the relay 5I to prevent the switch I from being opened, which would otherwise occur when the lower beam to photoelectric cell 36 alone is interrupted, in which case the relay 5I would be deenergized through circuit D. Circuit D, of course, is reenergized with the return of the lower light beam before the switch I43 is again opened. This permits a ball to pass over the foul line without indicating a false foul.

Thereafter, if a foul is committed at the foul line by interrupting the lower beam 24 before the ball reaches th trip beam device 25 the bottom beam relay 5I is deenergized by the only circuit maintaining energization at that time, namely, circuit D, since switches I43 and I55 are open in alternative circuits E1 and E2, respectively. When the switch I45 is permitted to open, it remains open for three seconds, and when the ball interrupts the trip beam within that time, th switch 209 of the trip beam relay 53a breaks the circuit B which energizes the relay I42. With circuit C broken at I45, and circuit B broken at 260, deenergization of the cascade relay I42 follows immediately to close the switch I46 and operate the equipment including the means for calling of a foul.

If, however, one of the cascade beams is interrupted instead of the lower foul line beam before the ball reaches the trip beam device 25, current flow through th amplifier I26 is stopped with the same effect upon the circuit C as the opening of the switch I45. This is also true if the treadle switch I65 was stepped on or any other normally closed switch in series therewith is opened which is connected across the leads indicated at I5I, such as wall switches, etc.

If a foul is committed by interrupting the bottom beam after the ball trips the trip beam and before tripping the cutout beam deenergization of th cascade relay I42 will take place immediately since once the trip beam is interrupted the relay 53a. thereafter remains deenergized for ten seconds.

However, once the trip beam is interrupted, the relay I55 is energized through the circuit F and switch 205. Ther will be, however, a l-second delay after establishing the circuit F before the switch I54 will close, during which time interruptance of the top beam 23 will open the switch I44. During this second, if the switches I44 and I54 are both open, the cascade is deenergized through the circuit C and a foul signal will be called. An infraction of the rules of play that will cause this operation of the device is commonly known as the "heel and toe foul, where the heel rests upon the alley in front of the foul line and the toe extends out over the foul line above the hallway. This occurs only for a brief period of time, namely, the 1-second period of time, after which any interference with the top beam 23 will not operate to call a foul. Once the ball I5 has interrupted the cutout beam, the switch I513 of the relay 53b is closed, and the circuit E and E2 established thereby maintains energization of the relay 5I so that any interruptanc of the lower beam will not operate to open the switch I45 and call a foul. This prevents a bowler from making an intentional foul with his foot after the ball has reached the pit of the alley.

However, in event a player is falling over the foul line and does not come in contact with the hallway and interrupt the cascade beams before the ball reaches the cutout beam, the operation of the cutout in no way affects the ability of the cascade beams and the relay I42 thereof to call a foul. The circuit B sustaining energize.- tion of the cascade relay I42 is broken when the switch 255 breaks contact with contact I4? and the current cutoff characteristic of the tube I253 interrupts the only other means sustaining energization of the relay I42. A capacity type of detector such as that described in our Patent No. 2,425,254 can be substituted for the cascade photoelectric. beams on the hallway to control the: relay I42.

IILEigS. it and 4 the control system is modified toinclude the cascade control I I3 described in conjunction. with. Figs. 1, 2 and without the cascade being subject to the operation of the cutout beam as already described in connection with Fig. 5.- In- Fig. 3 the cascade relay I20 and switch 146 shunt the switches 58 and 28, whereas in Fig. l the cutout relay 5% and switch 28- shunt the amplifier tube '60 of thelower beam relay 5| so that in either case an. intentional foot fault committed by interrupting the lower beam after the ball has interruptedbeam 21- and reached the pit of the alley will not cause av foul to besignalled or placed into operation any equipment controlled by the foul detecting circuits described, such as signals 40, 4|, automatic pin setter 162 (Fig. 1;) or any other equipment.

, (Consequently it will be seen from the drawings and the description thereof how the objects of the invention are-attained, and although in some respects we are not. able to account fully for the improved results which are attained by the apparatus and arrangement of elements and circuits of the invention, it should be understood that. any attempt to analyze the theories believed' to be responsible for these results is to be construed not as defining a mode of operation but merely asa possible explanation of certain: physical,v electrical or capacity phenom-- ena which have been observed.

Although; certain. embodiments and preferred arrangements of. the; elements of the. present inventionhavebeen-shown and described herein, it. will be apparent to those skilled in the art thatvarious uses andxmodifications and changes may be-madewithout departing from the spirit and: substance of' the: invention.

What is claimed is:

1.. For use with. a bowling alley having a .foul line. .dividingit ,intoarunway and a hallway and having equipment associated with the alley including means for disclosing a commission of a foul, an apparatus including a device actuated by a body such as a bowlersfoot present above and proximate to the foul line and constituting the sole 'means for. detecting infractions. of the rules of play at the foul line, a second device spaced from the first and actuated by a body touching the alley upon the ballway, means controlled by the operation of one of said devices for operating said equipment, and means actuated by a ball in motion beyond the second device for removing said foot detecting device from operation while maintaining operativeness of said second device.

2. For use with a bowling alley having equipment associated with the alley including means for disclosing a commission of a foul and having a foul line across which a bowling ball is delivered by a bowler when put into play, an apparatus including a device for detecting the presence of a body such as a bowlers foot proximate to and above the foul line, a device for detecting the presence of any portion of a bowlers body which contacts the alley within a predetermined distance beyond the foul line, a timer device associated with the first two devices for maintaining said detection for a predetermined period of time, means controlled by the operation of one of the first two of said devices for operating said equipment in combination with said timer device, and means located upon the alley beyond 10 the foul line responsive to the passage of a ball therepast for removingfrom operation said" foot detecting device at. a time ahead of. the termination of said predetermined period of, time;

3. In asignallingv device for bowling alleys or the like having afoul line, a signal control circuit including twosWitches-connected in parallel and; controlled by. relaysrespectively, means for detecting infractions of rules of. play at the foul line for actuating one of said relays to close the circuit, means. for detecting infractions of rulesof play beyond the foul line for actuating the other one of said relaysto close the circuit, timer means for maintaining closed the circuit thus closed by one of the switches for a predetermined time, and means including a switch for opening thecircuit having the first of said switches in it in response to a ball passing a predetermined point on the alley beyond the foul line.

4. For a bowling alley, the combination of normally inoperative means for detecting infractions of rules of play at the foul line, an element controlling said means to allow a ball to pass over the foul line onto the hallway without actuating said means, a second normally inoperative means for detecting infractions of rules of play immediately beyond the foul line, means responsive to the passage of the ball beyond the foul line rendering both of said inoperative means operative, and a second ball responsive means spaced from the first ball responsive means rendering said first normally inoperative means. inoperativefor a short period of time;

5.v For use with a bowling alley having a foul line dividing it into a runway'and a hallway and having equipment. associated. with the alley including means for disclosing a commission of a foul, an apparatus including a device actuated by a body such as a bowlers foot present above and proximate to thefoul line including a switch, a second device spaced from the first and actuatedby a body touching the alley upon the ballway, means controlled by the operation of said devices separately for operating said equipment, timer means for maintaining actuation of both of said devices for a predetermined period of time, and means actuated by a ball passing a predetermined point beyond the foul, line. and beyond the second device for actuating saidiswitch to remove said foot detecting device from operation prior to the expiration of said predetermined period of time.

6. For use with a bowling alley having equipment associated with the alley including means for disclosing a commission of a foul and having a foul line across which a bowling ball is delivered by a bowler when put into play, an apparatus including a device for detecting the presence of a body such as a bowlers foot proximate to and above the foul line, a device for detecting the presence of any portion of a bowlers body which contacts the alley within a predetermined distance beyond the foul line, means for detecting the passage of a ball beyond said predetermined distance, means controlled by the operation of said means and one of said devices jointly for registering the commission of a foul, and means responsive to the presence of a ball beyond the second device for removing said first device from operation.

'7. In a signalling device for bowling alleys or the like having a foul line, a signal circuit including a switch, a relay controlling said switch, a control circuit including said relay and a plurality of switches, two of which are connected in the circuit in parallel, means for detecting infractions of the rules of play beyond the foul line including a relay for actuating one of said two switches to close said control circuit, means for detecting infractions of rules of play at the foul line for actuating the other of said two switches to close the control circuit, and means responsive to the passage of a ball past a predetermined point on the alley beyond the foul line for actuating another one of said plurality of switches which is connected in series with said other of the two switches to open the circuit it closes.

8. For use witha bowling alley having a foul line dividing it into a runway and a ballway and having equipment associated with the alley including means for disclosing a commission of a foul, an apparatus including a device actuated by a body such as a bowlers foot present above and proximate to the foul line, a timer for maintaining actuation of said device for a predetermined period of time, a second device spaced from the first and actuated by the presence of a body touching the alley upon the hallway side of the foul line, a third device spaced from the other two devices beyond the second device upon the ballway and actuated by a body such as a ball in motion beyond the second device, means controlled by the joint operation of the third device and one of the other two devices for operating said equipment, and means responsive to the passage of a ball past a predetermined point on the ballway beyond the third device for removing the first device and the timer from operation while maintaining operativeness of said second device.

9. For use with a bowling alley having equipment associated with the alley including means for disclosing a commission of a foul and having a foul line across which a bowling ball is delivered by a bowler when put into play, an apparatus including a device actuated by a body such as a bowlers foot proximate to and above the foul line and constituting the sole means for detecting infractions of the rules of play at the foul line, a second device actuated by any portion of a bowlers body which contacts the alley within a predetermined distance beyond the foul line, a third device actuated by a body such as a ball in motion on the alley beyond said second device, means controlled by the joint operation of one of the first two of said devices in combination with the third device for operating said equipment, and means located upon the alley at a point beyond said third device and responsive to the presence of a moving ball upon the alley for removing from operation the first device while maintaining operativeness of said second device.

10. In a signalling device for bowling alleys or the like having a foul line, a signal control circuit including a switch, a relay controlling said switch, means'for detecting infractions of rules of play at the foul line for operating said relay, timer means including a circuit for sustaining the operation of said relay for a predetermined period of time after said relay is actuated, means responsive to the passage of a ball past a predetermined point on the alley beyond the foul line for removing said relay and timer means from operation by said detecting means, and means detecting infractions of rules of play beyond the foul line for operating said relay independently of said first detecting means and said responsive means.

11. For use with a bOWlll'lg alley having a foul line dividing it into a runway and a hallway and having equipment associated with the alley including means for disclosing a commission of a foul, an apparatus including a device actuated by a body such as a bowlers foot present above and proximate to the foul line as a sole means for detecting infractions of the rules of play at the foul line, a second device actuated by a bowlers body touching the alley upon the ballway, means controlled by the operation of said devices separately for operating said equipment, and means actuated by a ball passing a predetermined point beyond the foul line for removing said first device from operation while maintaining operativeness of said second device.

JAMES A. MACLAGAN. TI-IADDEUS A. WALSH.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,417,092 Smith Mar. 11, 1947 2,425,255 MacLagan et a1 Aug. 5, 1947

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