US2668712A

US2668712A - Bowling alley pin setting apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2668712A
Application number: US108292A
Authority: US
Inventors: Wilbert F Kling
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1949-08-03
Filing date: 1949-08-03
Publication date: 1954-02-09
Anticipated expiration: 1971-02-09

Description

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Feb. 9, 1954 w. F; KLING BOWLING ALLEY PIN SETTING APPARATUS Feb. 9, 1954 w. F. KLING 2,668,712l

BOWLING ALLEY PIN SETTING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 5, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Feb. 9, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 10 Claims.

The invention concerns a bowling alley and is particularly directed to bowling alleys con-V` structed on a small scale.

The problems encountered in the construction of small-scale bowling alleys are somewhat similar to those encountered in full-scale alleys. However, certain of the problems are magnied because of space limitations. For example, the ball in full-scale alleys is thrown by the player, whereas in a toy-size model this would be a totally inadequate method because of the resulting bouncing and lack of control. Further, even with a suitable provision for propelling the ball, there arises the problem of the severe impact of the ball against the rear wall of the alley.

In a full-scale model there is adequate space for an operator or pin-setter to move about while recovering and setting the pins. In small-scale alleys, on the other hand, it is a problem to provide a mode of preventing the pins from being scattered and at the same time prevent the pins from being deposited in a recessed area from which they cannot readily be recovered.

Likewise, the setting up of a small pin presents an aggravated problem in that the bottom surface area of the pin is quite small. The small surface area leads to a corresponding instability of the pins and resulting difficulty in setting them up. There are available to the art methods of setting pins in full scale alleys but again adaptation of these methods on a small-scale raises the problem o1 providing an apparatus which can operate efficiently in the limited space available.

It is an object of this invention to provide a bowling alley which includes new and improved facilities for the handling of the bowling pins.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a small scale bowling alley apparatus which is convenient to operate and which provides many of the recreational features of a full-scale alley.

A pin setting apparatus which is a feature of the invention holds the pins directly above their positions on the bowling surface and discharges them at said positions when the apparatus is lowered; the apparatus comprising a top panel provided with a plurality of holes, each hole adapted to receive a pin for passage therethrough; a plurality of cylinders attached to the underside of said top panel and each positioned concentrically to a hole in said top panel and adapted to receive a pin for passage therethrough; a bottom panel provided with a plurality of holes, each hole adapted to receive a pin for passage therethrough, said top and bottom panels forming a pin holding and pin discharging assembly mounted for vertical move-V ment above the bowling surface; said top panel being movable laterally relative to said bottom panel from a iirst position wherein the respective holes in the panels and the cylinders are in alignment such that a bowling pin will pass completely through said openings to a second position wherein the openings in said bottom panel are out of alignment with the openings in the top panel such that bowling pins enclosed in said cylinders rest on the body of said bottom panel; a lever member pivotally secured to said pin holding assembly for vertical movement therewith; a rst lever arm as a portion of said member and pivotally secured to said top panel for lateral movement therewith; a second lever arm as a stop engaging portion of said member; a third lever arm as a portion of said member and extending oppositely to said second lever arm; resilient means connecting said third arm with a portion of said pin holding assembly,

said first arm moving laterally in response to` vertical movement of said second arm and said resilient means tending to force said second lever arm and consequently said top panel into either of its extreme lateral positions depending on the position of said resilient means relative to the pivot point of said member on said pin holding assembly; a stop positioned near the top of said bowling alley adapted to engage and limit the upward movement of said second lever arm thereby causing said first arm to move laterally and said top panel to move to its closed position upon upward movement of the pin holding assembly; a stop positioned near the bowling level of said alley adapted to engage and limit the downward movement of said second lever arm thereby causing said first arm to move laterally and consequently said top panel to move to its open position upon downward movement of said pin holding assembly; and resilient guide means secured to a portion of said bowling alley and adapted to support said pin setting assembly.

Other objects and features of novelty of the invention will be specifically pointed out or will become apparent when referring, for a better understanding of the invention, to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein;

Figure 1 is a plan view. of a bowling alley illustrating one embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 is a section along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a section along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a section along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1,V

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a bowling alley illustrating the alternative pin setting apparatus;

Fig. 6 is a side view of Fig. 5 partially in section;

Fig. 7 is a rear view of the apparatus of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of Fig. 5 taken along the line 8 8.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view of Fig. 5 taken along the line 9 9.

Referring more particularly 'to the drawing:

The bowling "alley consists generally of a front wall I, a rear wall II, side walls I2, supporting legs I 3, a bowling surface I4, and a ball-returnV track I5.

Positioned forwardly of the front en d of the bowling surface is a sighting device ITS ywhich is adapted to hold the ball prior )to its being propelled and to direct the ball after motion has been initiated.

The sighting device ISas shown consists of a crimped =sheet 'having a 'sighting Vportion I 1 and a support vportion 18. 'The fsight I1 itself consists of an upwardly, concave, A'arcuate channel of the `same general curvature vras thefb'owlingba'll. The lsupport portions Iii of thesighting ldevice t5 are on 'each "sideof the Sight and are adjusted so that 'the `flowe'st linefof the concave channel surface isinrali'gnment with the bowling surface I4, in'a 'manner such that the ball, fin passing from the channel to 'the bowlingfsurface I4, moves in substantially vthe same :.pla'ne.

The sighting'device I6 isfslidably mounted on a surface I9, the plane of which is slightly lower than the bowling Vsurface Hl, in order Ato accommodate the support portions I B of the sighting device. 'A'b`olt2isloosely fastened'to the underside'o'i the sighting 'device iand passes through y a slot I-2I in the surface 'IS fin a manner permitting both `sideways 'and rotational movement of the "sighting fdevice l5. The sighting device t5 is shown-in solid linesin one position'in Fig. 1 and is shown asa broken line in an alternate position.

An area -22 generally triangular in shape near the 'rear -portion of the `bowling surfacefserves as zthe site for the bowling 'pins 23 vwhen they are set in position vfor aplay. The pins 23 'are each'pr'ovided with ahole 24 extending upwardly from its bottom surface, said Yholes 2li being adapted to receive balancingor stabilizing pins 25.

The Vbowling Isurfac'eof 'the bowlingfpin area 22 fis lprovided with La number 'of -holes 26, -each of which is vdirectly Iunder' a f'designated .position forfa bowlingL-pin-ZB and teachof 'which lies concenticall-y `with the "hole 24 r in the correspond-- ingly :positioned pin.

#Azpla-tform `r21 :is 'movably Ymounted under 'the bowling surface -Ifll and directlybelow the bowling pin area 22. The platform '21 consistsof a flat member ha-ving attached `thereto a "number of balancing ipins y.25, one `.for each bowling pin 2'3, each balaneingpin 25 being positioned in amanner such thatfit'is directly below Athe. designated position-for the corresponding bowling pin 'L23 and in a manner-such Vthat it=will pass through the "corresponding 'hole 2 S 1in the t`bowling surface into the correspondingfhole -24 in a bowling pin 23 withanupward'm'ovement ofithe'platfcrm 21. The platform 21 'i's also `provided with holesV 23 adaptedto slide over guides -`29 attached tothe underside'of thei'bowling surface 154, saidiguides 29 being adapted lto ip'revent'sidewaysfmovement of theLplatforfn-21and tomaintain 'alignment "of the..platformmember-swiththeir2 coacting mem- 4 bers on and above the bowling surface I4. A lever 30 is pivoted so that one arm 3| engages the underside of the platform 21 and the other arm 32 extends outside the side wall I 2 for convenient manipulation. A movement of the exposed arm 32 causes a movement of the platform 21. t is most advantageous that the lever be mounted so that the lever arm 32 rests against the underside of the ball-return track I5 when the platform 21 isf'at:its-ilowestjposition. Both lever :arms 3I and 32 are shown in 'solid "lines in their positions when the platform 21 is down, and their positions -are shown in broken lines when the platform 21 T1S 1.111 .v

The lever 30, in its preferred embodiment, is

` J'constructed 'with a channel-shaped cross section and-is mounted ina manner such that the plat- -form engaging arm 3i lits within parallel disposedlgui'des 39 attached to the under side of the platform 21.

A recessed -spa'ce 33 is positioned vimmediately off 'the rear edgevfa'ndbelow the level ofthe bowling surface I4. The bottom t@ of the recessed space 3 isbuiltfonanincline in order that bowling,pins23 ventering the'recessed space 33 Ibe deected to one-side. A receptacle `35 vfor receiving the struck bowling 'pins 23 is `positioned on :the side wall I2fjust outside the lower end of the 2inl clined bottom 35 of the recessed space. Afh'ole 35 in the'side wall I2 i-permits passage Yof the bowling pins 23 from the recessed :space 23 into the receptacle "35.

A swingable, hinged dooradapted to=swing upwardly towarda horizontal attitude -is attached near the 'back wall II of the alley and kdirectly behind the recessed Spa`ce`33. rThehinged member It is covered with felt or othersuitablematerial togprovide afresilientfsurface 31. v'It-is the purpose of the hinged l"member 54 to absorb substantially all'the'energy of impact of the moving bowling ballafter the .ballhasfpassed-the bowling pin area `222. The hinged -member '54 fis ksufficientlyyieldable to allow Atheball to pass through the opening provided by .thefbackward movement of lthe hingedfmernberz A chamber is providediimmediately behind the hinged member '5e to catch the ball. The chamber :"38 is connected 'to the ball-return-track t5 and is situated lat Aan elevation Y'such Athat a. ball contained Withthezchamber 33 Awill roll into the ball-'return ltrack I5. The latter track I5 is inclined downwardly `as it vapproaches the front end lof the'alleyr'suicient Vto cause theball ktoreturn automatically to the front section :ofthe return .track I5.

fInithe use of the'bowlingf alley apparatus-ofthe invention; asshown 'in Figs. =1-4 inclusive, a-player mounts thebowlingfballon the adj-ustablesight and, after taking aim, propels :the ball toward the `bowlingpinsiwith a :flick of thenger'orfby anothersuitable'method. It is :sometimes preferred to'put a'verysslght depression' in .the sight in ordertoholdtheball steady while aim-isfbeing taken.

vWhen-the-pinsare struck by the ball theyare propelled backward into the recessed area where they are-deflected toward the bowlingpinreceptacle on theside wall. lMeanwhile the ball strikes against the resilient surface of the Vswingable door and `passes into"the rear cham-ber, asubstantialportion of :its energy having been labsorbed by' its impact with the door. From the rear-chamberlthe ball 'Pfollows the return `track to thefrontend ofthe alley.

When "-th-e setting fof pins becomes :necessarm they are removed from the lconvenient receptacle and set in their designated spots on the bowling surface. During the setting operation the hand operated lever is moved in a manner to raise the platform holding the stabilizing pins. These pins extend above the bowling surface and impart stability to the bowling pins when the latter are set over them. When the pins have been set the lever is released and the platform is lowered. This retracts the stabilizing pins to a position below the bowling surface and play may be resumed.

Figs. -9, inclusive, show in detail an alternative pin setting apparatus for use with the invention wherein the pins are conveyed to their positions on the bowling surface by means of an assembly which is adapted to hold the pins directly above their bowling surface positions and is also adapted to release the pins when the assembly is lowered.

The pin holding assembly consists of an upper panel 40, cylinders 4l, which are secured to the under side of the top panel 46, and a bottom panel 42. The top panel is provided with the holes 43', one for each bowling pin, each of said holes being concentric with the opening of a cylinder 4I which is secured directly beneath the hole 43. The bottom panel 42 is provided with openings 44, one for each bowling pin.

The bottom panel 42 is supported by the side braces 45. Screws 46, or other guide means positioned in the side braces 45, are mounted for engagement in slots 41 in side wall IE of the bowling apparatus. The screws or guide means 46 maintain the alignment of the pin holding assembly in its vertical movement. Resilient guides 48 serve to support the Vside braces and pin holding assembly when the assembly is at its highest elevation and while it is being lowered. Downwardly extending portions 49 of the side braces squeeze between the resilient guides 48 and the side wall I2 when the pin-holding assembly is lowered. In this manner a pressure is obtained against the side braces at all positions of said braces.

Lateral movement of the top panel 40 with respect to the bottom panel 42 is made responsive to vertical movement of the pin holding assembly by means of the lever indicated generally by 56. The lever 50, pivoted at a point 5I, con- I sists of a first lever arm 52, a second lever arm 53 and a third lever arm 54. The first lever arm 52 is engaged with a -bracket 55 by means of the pin 56, the bracket 55 in turn being secured to the top panel 40 for lateral movement therewith. The third lever arm 54 is connected by means of a tension device such as a spring 51 to a portion 58v of the pin holding assembly.

As shown, particularly in Fig. 9, the pivoting point 5| for the lever 50 consists of a wire 59 or the like which is secured to lbrackets 60 of the pin holding assembly by the screws 6 l.

On upward movement of the lever 50 the second lever arm 53 is brought into contact with a stop `62 which, as shown, is the support for the swingable door 64. Contact of the lever arm 53 with the stop 62 lcauses the lever arm 54 to move upwardly with respect to the lever arm 53 and causes the lever arm 52 to move rearwardly. In this manner there is a lateral movement of the top panel' toward the rear of the assembly causing the openings 43 of the top panel to be out of alignment with the openings 44 in the bottom panel. The assembly is held in this position by the spring 51 which is, as shown, slightly overthe pivot point 5l of the lever 50. i

When the pin holding assembly and the lever 56 are moved downwardly to the position shown in the dotted lines of Figs. 6 and 8, the lever varm 53 is brought into contact with the stop `63 which limits the downward movement of the lever 50. This causes the lever arm 54 to move downwardly relative to the arm 53 and causes the lever armv 52 to move forward thus causing a forward lateral movement of the top panel with respect to the bottom panel. In this manner the holes 43 in the top panel are brought into alignment with the holes 44 in the bottom panel and the pins held in the pin holding assembly are discharged. When the lever '50 is in the lower position, the spring 51 is slightly below the pivot point 5| thus holding the lever in position until it has been raised to encounter the stop 62.

I claim:

l. In a bowling alley, a pin setting apparatus comprising a top panel provided with a pluralityv of holes, each hole adapted to receive a pin for passage therethrough; a plurality of cylinders attached to the underside of said top panel and each positioned concentrically to a hole in said top panel and adapted to receive a pin for passage therethrough; a bottom panel provided with a plurality of holes, each hole adapted to receive a pin for passage therethrough, wherein said top and bottom panels form a pin holding and pin discharging assembly mounted for vertical movement above the bowling surface and wherein said top panel is movable laterally relative to said bottom panel from a first position wherein' the respective holes in the panels and the cylinders are in alignment such that a bowling pin will pass completely through said openings to a second position wherein the openings in said bottom panel are out of alignment with the openings in the top panel such that bowling pins enclosed in said cylinders rest on the body of said bottom panel; a level member pivotally secured to said pin holding assembly for vertical movement therewith; a first lever arm as a portion of said member and pivotally secured to said top panel for lateral movement therewith; a second lever arm as a stop engaging portion of said member; a third lever arm as a portion of said member and extending oppositely to said second lever arm; resilient means -connecting said third arm with a portion of said pin holding assembly, said first arm moving laterally in response to vertical movement of said second arm and said resilient means tending to force saidy second lever arm and consequently said top panel into either of its extreme lateral positions depending on the position of said resilient means relative to the pivot point of said lever member on said pin holding assembly; a stop positioned near the top of said bowling alley adapted to engage and limit the upward movement of said second lever arm thereby causing said rst arm to move laterally and said top panel to move to said second position upon upward movement of the pin holding assembly; a stop positioned near the bowling level of said alley adapted to enga-ge and limit the downward movement of said second lever arm thereby causing said first arm to move laterally and consequently said top panel to move to said rst position upon downward movement of said pin holding assembly; and resilient guide means secured to a portion of said bowling alley and adapted to support said pin setting assembly.

2. In a bowling alley in which two oppositelyl spese/1ra disposeliverticalwallsareiprovided:withvertically extending slots; aspinl-s'etting apparatusaeomprisinga topipanelprovided wana-plurality cflffoles, each ihole :adapted to receive Va vpin ffor :passage therethrough; Ea lplurality of cylinders @attached to tlie'underside offsaid l'top lpanelandfeaehipos tionedconcentricallyto la ihole :in-fsai'd top panel an'dfadapted to freeeive aipinffor passage ftheretl'roughja bottomzpaneLprovidedWith av'plurality of flioles,feach zhole adapted to :receive f a pin for passage `ltloerethrough, vvherein said -top and bottom :panels iform "a spin molding :and :pin fdischarging :assembly `mounted fior :vertical fmovement above?thebowlingv surfaceand Whereinrsaid topapan'el "is movable laterally relative to said bottom .panel from a grfirst positionwvherein the respective holesin the panels andthe-cylinders areiin alignmentfsuchth'ata bowling pinwillpa'ss completely throughsaid.- openingsftofa-second position wherein the openings in said bottompanel areloutof alignmentvvith-the Aopeniiigsfin the top panel :such 'that bowling :pins `enclosed in lsaid oylindersrestonithe boiiy of sa'i-dbottom panel; a leverlmernber pivotally secured to saidpin holding assembly forlvertioalmovementftherevith, a 'li'rst lever arm a portiono'said memser and pivotally-secure'dto saidtop panel for lateralmovement -tli'e'rewith; La rseconcl lever 4arm Aas a stop engaging portion `4of said member; aitliird 1lever arm asia portion 'of saidlmember and extending oppositely Eto -said second :lever arm; resilient meansconnec'ting-said third arm with a portion ofisaid pinholding assembly, said first arm moving rlaterally* in response to -vertical movement of saidsecond arm and said'resilient meanstending La to force *said 'second lever arm and eonseqnently said top panel into eitherof its 'extreme lateral positions 'epending'on the `positiony of said resile rent means relative to the 'pivot point of said member o'nsaid pinholding assembly; astop'positioned near the top of said bowling alley adapted to engage and limit the upward movement oi' 'said second "lever-arm thereby ,causing `said first arm to 'move laterally and said toppanel to moveto said second'position upon upward Anlovement of j the'pin holding assembly; a stop positionedn'ear thebotvlin'g level of saidalley adapted to `engage and liinit the downward'movement ofsaid second lever arm thereby causing said first arm to 'move laterallyland consequently said toppanel't'o nieve to fs'aid rst positionupon downward movement of vsaid pin 'holding assembly; resilient guide means securedto apoition of said bowling alley andadaptedto support saidp'insetting assembly;

andoppositely disposedguide inembersiextending i outwardlyfrom ,said pin holding assembly and adaptedtori'cle in said vertically extendingslots Withevertical movement or" said assembly.

Q3. Theoombination With-a bowling alley having aplanefsurfaceya set of .pinsffor-one endof said alley,fa,pinsetting device on said end ofthe alley, saidpinsetting device including atopfandfbo'ttom panel -movable vertically ras f a -unit and relatively shiftable horizontally, said panelshavingtapertures through :which ,pins may pass `when the panels `are in-` one relative horizontalposition, with thebottomfpanel preventing such passagein another yhorizontal relativepesition of the` panels `for supporting the -pins in :vertical position when placed-Within .theapertures of the-top panel,.a lever pivoted on the bottom panel and Apivotally connected to .the top `oanel, xmeans on said :alley for shiftingrsaid lever anea'r theendiof theupward movement of the panels toprodueefrel'ative horizontal shiftingrthereoflffor retaining ithe pins 8 WhenfthepaneIsiareiin raisedpositionfandmeans onfs'aidfalley for shiftingltlielleverinitheiopposlte tively shiftin'gthepanels horizontally-forsettin'g the l'pins 'on the1a1leys11'rfaee.

f4. The 1 l"combi'nation :with fa `Vbowling alley having aplane surface, j.a fset'of pins forfone'fendnf said alley, a'rpin-setting device-on saidfendv-offthe alley, said Jpin-settin'g= device including a l top i and bottom panel movable -vertiea'lly as .'a lurlitfand relatively -sliiftable :horizontally of the alley bed. said panels having apertures through Whiehpins maypasslwhenthefpanelsfareinronelrelativehoizo'rital 4position,iwi-inthebottomrpanel preventing suon y'passage'v in another Iii'orizontal relative Spositionfofthe panelsfor'suppor tingl'the pins in iveiitifcal position when placed `ivitloin the i apertures of theftopl paneLpalever pivote'd on'therbottom panel and Vpivotall-y` connectedto-the vtop panel, means on said alley for shifting said lever'rnearthefend ofthe upward.V movement offthe 'panels to p'rodlice relative @horizontalshif-ting thereof 1'for retaining the pins when the panels are in raised position, means onf saicl alley for shifting ltlie lever in the opposite direction when 'the panels :are llowered for irelativelyshifting the panels horizontally .'for setting I'the -pinsfon the alley surface, and :spring means'eieetivein `both-'p'osition'sof said leverffor retaining the-panels andleverin shifted position.

5. The combination-With a bowlingalleyhaving a pianesui-acala vertically movabl'elraxne atfone end of the-alley providedwithahorizontalfarea having apertures Etherein through which 'individual pins of f a. set may pass; downwardly extending arms'on said framefchannel'membersfonthe'alley extending upwardlyffor encompassingsaid-down- Wai-diyy extending lar'ms "fonsupporting and guiding said-frame inzvertieal-positiomfa shiftable 'radii ori-said area having-'aperturesthereinlwhiehalign with the apertures intheare'awheninrone position :and which Sare out fof alignment With said apertures 1in ianother iposition, 4said rack "having aniextending arm l and :said frarne Ehaving a frear portion -in which fsaid -arm #is ishiftabie, sa lever pivoted to said rear portion oftheframe having an extendingifinger which fis :ipivotedto saidsarm, and 'means :on lsaid xalley for interrupting fthe movement of ithe lever "with :the iframe as the frameiSbothIraiSed andlowered tofsiiiftlthelever from vone :to "another @position which shifts ith-e arml and irack'into ya rpositioninfvvliich the v"apertures fare aligned and into `.another position in whiclr theyare "out: of Laiignment.

' ingf-saidfdownwardlyextending arms for-,supporting and guidingsaid .framein vertical position, a shiftable rack on Ysaid areahaving apertures tlierein which align Yvvith theapeiit'ures"inl the area when in onejpositi'onand which are iout o'falignmentwithsaidapertures' in another position, said rack having an extending arm and said 'iframe having a nrear portion in `which said "arm is shifta'ble, a lever pivote'd tosaid rear portion of ythe `'frame having an extending iinger which is -pi-votedito-lsaidfarm, meanslon said alley-"for interrupting theE movementfo'f the lever l,with the frame aslthe frame isi-both raised/andrloweredto shift the lever romon'e toi-anothersposition whioh shiftsi-theiarm .and wack; into a -position lin ivvhic'zh the apertures are aligned and into another position in which they are out of alignment, and spring means interconnected between the rear portion of the frame and said lever retaining the lever and rack in either of the shifted positions.

7. The combination with a bowling alley having a plane surface, a vertically movable frame at one end of the alley provided with a horizontal area having apertures therein through which individual pins of a set may pass, downwardly eX- tending arms on said frame, channel members on the alley extending upwardly for encompassing said downwardly extending arms for supporting and guiding said frame in Vertical position, a shiftable rack on said area having apertures therein which align with the apertures in the area when in one position and which are out of alignment with said apertures in another position, said rack having an extending arm and said frame having a rear portion in which said arm is shiftahle, a lever pivoted to said rear portion of the frame having an extending nger which is pivoted to said arm, means on said alley for interrupting the movement of the lever with the frame as the frame is both raised and lowered to shift the lever from one to another position which shifts the arm and rack into a position in which the apertures are aligned and into another position in which they are out of alignment, and spring means projecting within said channel means in position to engage the ends of the arm when the frame is in raised position for retaining it in said position.

8. The combination with a bowling alley having a horizontal area containing apertures and side walls near the pin end of the alley containing aligned inwardly directed channels, a frame having a horizontal portion and downwardly eX- tending aligned arms on opposite sides which are received by and guided within said channels for vertical movement, a shiftable rack on said horizontal area having apertures disposed in aligned relation to the apertures through said area in one position and in out-of-aligned relation therewith when shifted, and means engaging at least one of the arms when the frame is in raised position for retaining it in raised position.

9. The combination with a bowling alley having a horizontal area containing apertures and side walls near the pin end of the alley containing aligned inwardly directed channels, a frame having a horizontal portion and downwardly extending aligned arms on opposite sides which are received by and guided within said channels for vertical movement, a shiftable rack on said horizontal area having apertures disposed in aligned relation to the apertures through said area in one position and in out-of-aligned relation therewith when shifted, means engaging at least one of the arms when the frame is in raised position for retaining it in raised position, a lever carried by said frame for pivotal movement relative thereto, a finger extending from said lever pivoted to said rack for causing the rack to shift from aperture-aligned position to aperture-unaligned position at the lower and raised positions of the frame respectively, and means engaging the lever near the end of the upward and downward movement or' the frame for shifting said rack.

10. The combination with a bowling alley having a horizontal area containing apertures and side walls near the pin end of the alley containing aligned inwardly directed channels, a frame having a horizontal portion and downwardly extending aligned arms on opposite sides which are received by and guided within said channels for vertical movement, a shiftable rack on said horizontal area having apertures disposed in aligned relation to the apertures through said area in one position and in out-of-aligned relation therewith when shifted, means engaging at least one of the arms when the frame is in raised position for retaining it in raised position, a lever carried by said frame for pivotal movement relative thereto, a finger extending from said lever pivoted to said rack for causing the rack to shift from aperture-aligned position to aperture-unaligned position at the lower and raised positions of the frame respectively, means engaging the lever near the end of the upward and downward movement of the frame for shifting said rack, and spring means secured between said lever and frame for retaining the rack in either of its shifted positions.

WILBERT F. KLING.

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