US2670204A - Bowling game - Google Patents

Description

J. H. POWELL BOWLING GAME Feb. 23, 1954 Filed Dec. 14, 1950 INVENTOR. Jkflms E Pall all 14 TTU Y Patented Feb. 23, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFF ICE. 21670304 James H; Powell, Watertowm. Mass; Application December 14, f95ll, SeriafNo; 200,707

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a. game of ten pins wherein a captive ball is employed that'is constrained to describe an orbital. flight and swing in. an outward movement at one side of and by the" pins and in a return movement in a path intended tostrike the pins, considerable skill being required'toinitiate the direction and veloeity' of flight ofthe ball so as to cause the ball in its return flight to strike an intended pin.

One of the objects of the present invention is theprovision of a verticalpostlocated at. one side orthe-pin" supporthaving at'its upper end a swivel to which the upper end of the ball supporting cord is attached so that the ball can describe an orbital path about the post the dimensions of which need be restrained only by the length of the cord.

Two sockets are provided one on each side of the pin support so that the vertical post may be mounted in either socket. Thus the post may be mounted in the socket on the right side of the pin support so that the ball is readily accessible to right hand players or it may be mounted in the socket on the left side for the convenience of left hand players.

A further object of the invention is a game of the type above set forth wherein the swivel that connects the ball cord with the top part of the post has a connection with the cord considerably to one side of the post for the purpose of increasing the length of the ball orbit as the ball and the swivel swing around the post.

A further object of the invention is a game of the type described wherein the parts are supported by a suitable base which is provided with clips or other holding means for the pins and the ball.

Another object is ten pin game.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the game.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the supporting table showing the parts held within the retaining clips.

Fig. 3 is a sectional detail through the upper end of the ball supporting post and illustrating the construction of the swivel.

The game includes a table comprising a flat bottom wall In and upstanding side walls 12 forming a bank enclosing the playing fiield.

A triangular pin supporting platform I8 is disposed on the table In and preferably is elevated by short legs or blocks 20 somewhat above the table although not above the top of the side walls. A single triangular supporting block slightly smaller than the pin supporting platform may be advantageously used for this purgenerally to improve upon a diameter as by the inserted 2:, pose. The pin support spots to indicate the positions of the telr pins 21;, the pins being set up as is usual in the regular bowling alley.

Supporting sockets 2B and its are secured to the table near each of the opposite side edges F2- thereof and are spaced a substantial distance from the pinsupporting platform i'n li'ne witli the back: now oi DihS'i- Sa'ziii sockets $6 andi We are provided: aliole c8; see' especially Fig:- 2 iii am upstanding: tubular. bani supporting post 30 isinenrenably; insertedi. Thepestrman be mounted: in. socket 16 91133 the lefll side GB the 1518! support It as shown in Fig. 1 and thus make the ball conveniently available for use by a left available for a right handed player.

A swivel supporting plug 34 is fixed in the upper end of the post 30 and has a passage 36 therein coaxial with the'axis of the post and terminated in a lower conical seat 38. The plug has a peripherally outstanding head 40 that overlies and is seated upon the end of the tubular post 30. The upper end of the passage 36 is reduced in bushing 42. A swivel pin 44 has a vertical shank which is located loosely in the bushing 42 and has a conical lower end 48 that is rotatably journalled in the conical seat 38. The pin thus can swivel freely about the post. The pin is provided with an ofiset substantially horizontal extension 50 of considerable length which is provided with a hole 52 at the outer end to which the upper end of a flexible cord 54 is attached. The lower end of the cord is tied to an eye 56 screw-threaded or otherwise fixed in a ball 58.

The inactive position of the ball, with the cord 54 vertical is substantially at one side of the pin set-up and against the lower end of the post. The length of the cord is such that the ball can swing over any portion of the pin supporting plate l8 without striking the plate, although preferably the ball swings closely over the plate.

In playing the game the ball is raised into some elevated position, as illustrated in Fig. 1, behind the back of the pin set-up and is given an impetus toward the left in such direction as to carry the ball in an orbital path 62 forwardly on one side of the post and then backwardly on the other side of the post to strike the pins. Considerable skill is required in judging the initial direction to impel the ball and the amount of force to be applied to cause the ball, in its return stroke to pass over the pin supporting table to knock down the desired pin or pins.

By having the post 30 within the ball orbit the dimensions of the orbit are not restricted by the post and hence the structural dimensions of the game are kept down.

The relatively long over-hanging length of the arm 50 of the swivel 44 also has the effect of an increased length of ball supporting cord in that it lengthens the orbit of the ball.

In the inactive position of the ball, the ball hangs clear of the pin supporting plate so that the pins can be set up thereon without danger of knocking over a pin when the ball is grasped for a second play.

In the knock down or disassembled position of the device the post is removed and the ball 58 is retained in a corner clip 69. The pins 24 are located in spaced line on the table at one end thereof with their ends against one end wall or the table and are retained releasably in position by a pin holder 10 comprising, for instance, a resilient wire strip having a plurality of bends within which the pins are located. The post is usually laid within the table cornerwise. The device as thus arranged can be packed for shipment, or displayed.

I claim: a

In a bowling game, a table, a triangular ten pin support elevated above the table, a pair of sockets disposed one at each side of the pin support and spaced therefrom and close thereto and approximately in line with the rear row of pins, an upright post insertablein eitherone of the 4 sockets at will, the post having a short laterally extended arm having a swivel connection with the upper part of the post capable of turning freely completely around the post, a ball connected to the free end of said arm by a flexible cord so that the ball hangs when at rest in close proximity to the base of said post, said table having a circumscribing upstanding rim that encloses the pin support and the base of the post, the rim being spaced away from the pin support to provide lodgment for the pins knocked off the pin support, the post being the sole projection above said rim other than the pins thereby permitting the unobstructed swinging of the ball and the arm around the post.

JAMES H. POWELL.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 735,132 McCutohen Aug. 4, 1903 848,371 Huben Mar. 26, 1907 979,598 Thimm Dec. 27, 1910 1,063,233 Wilhelm June 3, 1913 1,371,831 Workman Mar. 15, 1921 2,160,451 Athey May 30, 1939 2,319,917 Bruneau May 25, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 648,042 Germany July20, 1937

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