US3036320A

US3036320A - Apparatus for cleaning a bowling pin

Info

Publication number: US3036320A
Application number: US17212A
Authority: US
Inventors: Herman C Behrendt
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1960-03-23
Filing date: 1960-03-23
Publication date: 1962-05-29
Anticipated expiration: 1979-05-29

Description

y 1962 H. c. BEHRENDT 3,036,320

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING A BOWLING PIN Filed March 25, 1960 Y 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 @NSZ T 5. E z.

INVENTOR. HERMAN C. BEHAE/VOT ,47' TO/QIYEKSI 3,035,320 APPARATUS FOR CLEANING A BQWLING rm Herman C. Behrendt, 2312 University, Des Meines, Iowa Filed Mar. 23, 1960, Ser. No. 17,212 1 Clai. (Cl. 15-21) This invention relates generally to apparatus for cleaning an article and more specifically to improvement in an apparatus for the cleaning of a bowling pin.

In recent years there has been a large increase of automation instilled into the game of bowling. Not only have there been automatic scoring machines, but there have been installed in almost every bowling alley, automatic pin setting machines. Due to the use of the automatic pin setting machines, there is an increased requirement for a constant change ofbowling pins. As is well realized due to the speed-up of the game caused by the use of the automatic pin setters, the bowling pins are in constant use and as such receive more Wear and contact with the backstop and the floor member in a much shorter period of time. It has therefore become necessary to providea quick means for the cleaning of the increased number of bowling pins that are used.

Heretofore it has been necessary to utilize large bulky equipment for the cleaning of the bowling pins. The cleaning apparatus is not only bulky and expensive but the structure of this equipment hasbeen such that the parts are not easily replaced-and the maintenance cost is very high.

It is therefore the primary object of this invention to provide a bowling pin cleaning device which is not only compact in size but is so constructed to-have replaceable parts to reduce the maintenance cost.

The specific object of this invention is to provide a bowling pin cleaning apparatus which has a rotatable drum in which the bowling pin is inserted coming into contact with a plurality of spring loaded brush members to perform the cleaning operation.

Another object of this invention isqto provide an improved bowling pin cleaning apparatus in which the entire surface of a' bowling pin-Will come into contact with rotating, contoured brushi members resiliently mounted within the housing 'to perform the cleaning operation.

A still-furtherobject of this invention is-to provide an-improved bowling pin cleaningapparatus in which the cleaning container is 'easily' removed from the drive motor.

Another object-of'this invention is to provide a resilient releasable holdingmeans .for the end of the cleaning brushes within the cleaning container.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the-invention resides in the following specification and appended claims, certain embodiments and details of construction of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in

= which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view illustrating an operator placing a bowling pin into the bowling pin cleaning apparatus of this invention;

, pin cut away showing the connection with the bowling pin holding tool;

FIGURE is a plan view of thespring loaded holding tool;

$336,329 Patented May 2%, 1962 meal 1 FIGURE 6 is a section view taken along the lines 6-6 of FIGURE 5; and

FIGURE 7 is a section view taken along the lines 77 of FIGURE 5.

Referring now particularly to the drawings, a bowling pin cleaning apparatus of this invention indicated generally at l, which includes an upper cleaning section 2 which has an outside housing 3. The outside housing 3, being of any suitable non-corrosive metal, is in cylindrical shape and is provided with 'an opening 4 on its upper surface 5. Referring specifically to FIGURE 4 the upper surface 5 of the container 3 has a contoured surface with the opening '4 being centrally located therein. The periphery of the opening 4 has a rounded lip member 6. The contour of the lip member 6 provides for smooth easy insertion of a bowling pin intothe container 3, and also assures no "additional scratching or marring of .a bowling pin.

Centrally mounted on a lowersurface 7 of the container 3 is a connecting sleeve member 8. Sleeve member 8 is secured to the surface 7 by any suitable means, as by welding. The sleeve member v8 has a lower recessed portion 9 which'engages -a corresponding bearing supportsecured to the motor housing frame which will be type connection and it is easily seen that the upper cleaning housing can be easily removed from the drive shaft.

The frame structure 13 not only provides a housing for a drive motor 14 but also provides a stable base for the bowling pin cleaning apparatus. Centrally mounted on the upper surface of the frame 13 by means of holddown screws 15 is a protruding bearing support 16.. A thrust bearing 17 is secured in the mount 16 through which the drive shaft 12 passes and engagm the sleeve 8. The bearing supportldhas its upper portion engaged with the recessed area f the sleeve8. Thus it is easily -seen-not only does the invention provide an easy quick disconnect of the cleaning housing 3 from the drive motor frame structure 13, but it also provides a protective shield. for the thrust bearing 17 byv means of. the sleeve 8.

The drive shaftlZ extends in a downwardly direction passing through a thrust bearing 18 which is secured in a-bearing mount 19. The mount 19 is secured to the frame structure 13 by a plurality of screw membersZO.

vA pulley member 21 isfkeyed or secured to the lower end of the drive shaftiZ. The pulley 21, being driven ,by the belt .22, receives its power from a corresponding pulley attached to the drive motor 14. Linear movenaent of the drive shaft 12 is prevented by a bearing member23 whichis securely held to the lower surface of the'frame structure 13.

Referingnow specifically to'FIGURES 2, 3 and 4, a plurality of brush members 24 are resiliently mounted 12G apart within the housing- 3. Each of the brush members 24, being of any suitable commercial brush mate- "riaL-has a contoured metal backing plate 25. The metal backing plate 25 has a contourcorresponding to that of is illustrated in the drawing as: being connected by a plurality. of pins 26.

Referring now specifically to FIGURES 2 and 4, the

backing plate 25 is secured toa resilient holding bracket indicated generally by the number 2'7. The holding bracket 27 has two side members 28 which have slotted openings 29. The side members 28 are secured as by welding to the housing 3 and extend inwardly towards the center of the housing 3. Adapted to slide within or between the members 28 is a plunger 30. The plunger 30 connects or telescopes over a pin member 31 protruding from the metal backing plate 25. The pin 31 is secured to the backing plate 25 by any suitable means'such as welding. A compression spring 32 is positioned between the two side plates 28 and behind the plunger 30 whereby one end of the compression spring will be forced against the housing 3 while the other end is acting on the plunger 29. To keep the brush member 24 and plate member 25 from turning or twisting due to the rotary action of the housing 3 the holding bracket 27 has a cotter pin 33 which passes through the slots 29 in the side members 28 and also through an opening 34 in the plunger 39. Thus it is easily seen that through the action of the holding bracket 27 the brush members are urged in an inward direction towards the bowling pin and are held in secured relationship from any torque set-up due to the rotation of the housing 3. The holding bracket 27 is positioned towards the upper end of the' housing 3. The

advantage of locating the holding brackets 27 in this position will be discussed later.

Referring now specifically to FIGURES 3 and 4, a resilient releasable holding attachment, indicated generally by the numeral 35, for holding a lower tip 36 of the contoured backing plate 25, is secured to the lower or bottom surface of the housing 3. The locking attachment 35 has a bracket 37 through which passes a shaft member 38. The shaft member 38 is urged in an inward direction by a compression spring 39. A cotter pin 40 passing through the shaft 38 prevents the shaft from being urged through the bracket '37. The compression spring 39 has one end pressing against the bracket 37 and the other end pressing against a plate 41 in which the shaft 38 terminates.

Centrally secured to the lower portion or surface of the housing 3 is a tip brush bracket 44. The brush bracket 44 being hexagon in shape provides a plurality of side wall members 45 alternate ones of which are provided with terminal outwardly extended and upright lips 60 spaced apart to receive the plate 41 therebetween. The upper ends 61 of the lips 60 are flared or bent away from each other, while the upper surface 62 of the plate 41 is tapered or inclined downwardly toward the bracket 44 which is of any suitable corrosive resistant metal, and fixedly secured to the bottom wall of container 3. Centrally mounted on the bracket 44 in order to come in contact with the uppermost point of the bowling pin is a brush 46. The brush 46 is secured to the bracket 44 by any suitable means, illustrated in the drawings as being a friction fit pin 47.

Referring specifically to FIGURE 4 now, the action of the holding attachment 35 forces the tip or lower portion 36 of the backing plate 25 into contact with a side 45 of the bracket 44, at a position between apair of lips 60. It is obvious that the holding of the tip portion 36 between the lips 60 and plate 41 will urge the complete brush member 24 and backing plate 25 in an inward direction in conjunction with the action of the holding bracket 27 when the bowling pin is removed. The brushes 24 maintain their position upon removal of the bowling pin due to the over center position of the holding bracket 27 in which the weight of the assembly will keep the pin member 31 within the plunger 30.

It is obvious that to remove the brushes 24 all that is required is to move the brush towards the center of the container 3 until the pin 31 clearsthe recess in the plunger 30 and then pull in an upward direction to disengage the '61 of the lips 60, and the inclined surface 62 of the plate I 4 1 acting as guides, and then placing the pin 31 into a closed position.

the recess of plunger '30. Stated otherwise, the lips 60', a side 45 of the bracket 44 and a corresponding plate 41 form an expansible socket for receiving the lower end tip portion 36 of a backing plate 25.

Referring now to FIGURES 2 and 4, a plurality of stationary guard members 48 are positioned apart between adjacent brush members. Each guard member, being permanently secured to the inner surface of the container 3, has a contoured surface corresponding to that of the larger portion of the bowling pin. The stationa-ry guards 48 function to guide a bowling pin as the pin is inserted, within the opening 4 to a fully extended position Within the circle or ring formed by the brushes 24. As is apparent upon entrance of the first portion of the bowling pin within the container 3 the torque action of the brushes will have a tendency to force the tip or head of the bowling pin to a position between a pair of adjacent brushes, but as the tip tries to move to such position it will come into contact with a stationary guard member 48 and be guided toward the center of the housing 3.

Located near the lower portion of the container 3 is an outlet 49 sealed by a removable plug 50. This provides an adequate means for draining the container 3 of any cleaning liquids therein.

In utilizing this bowling pin cleaning apparatus the container 3 is first filled with a detergent or cleaning liquid. After the proper solution is in the container 3 and the drive motor has the cleaning container in a spinning condition, the bowling pin is inserted through the opening 4 while being held by a special plier like tool 51 which is to be explained later. It is quite obvious that through the action of the spring operated brush members 24 and the tip brush member 46, the complete surface of the bowling pin will be in constant contact with the brushes and the cleaning solution.

The plier like tool 51 is used to hold the bowling pin in a secured position while the cleaning operation is taking place and includes a pair of handle members 54 integrally formed at one of their ends with tong or gripping members 52. A spring 53, arranged in compression between the handles 54 urges the gripping members 52 to As best shown in FIGURE 6 each member 52 is of a semi-circular shape in transverse cross section, and in closed position form a substantially cylindrical unit of a size to be freely received within the usual cavity 67 formed centrally in the base of a bowling pin.

The handle members 54, pivot about a pivot pin 55 having one end 64 threaded into one of the handle members 54, and its headed end 65 loosely received within a tapered hole 66 formed in the other handle member 54. The loose fit about the pin 55 is provided so that one handle member is free to move relative to the other. Positioned forwardly of the pivot pin 55 is a guide pin 56 utilized to keep the gripping or tong members 52 in iongitudinal alignment. It is easily seen that it is only necessary for the operator to insert the tip or gripping portions 52 of the tool 51 into the bottom opening 67 of the bowling pin and then by pressing together the handle. members 54 to move the gripping members 52 away from each other into frictional engagement with the side wall of the opening or cavity 67, holding the pin while it is beingcleaned by the cleaning apparatus.

While the apparatus of this invention is shown and described with particular reference for the cleaning of bowling pins, it is apparent that many of the features shown may be used in a variety of combinations and with other attachments for cleaning other structures of different contour and that many'of the details thereof may be considerably modified wihoutdeparting materially from :the features of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

In a device for cleaning bowling 'pins having a base 7 section and a reduced neck section, including'a rotatable tom Wall and a side Wall, a plurality of brush means each contoured to the shape of a bowling pin and including a back member, said brushes positioned upright within said container in a circumferentially spaced relation concentric with said side wall, with the portion of a brush back member contoured to the neck portion of a pin being lowermost, and the portion thereof contoured to the base section of a pin being uppermost, means corresponding to said brush means for releasably and yieldably receiving the lower end of a corresponding back member against radial and circumferential movement relative to said container, a plurality of side wall supported means corresponding to said brush members and arranged at positions opposite the uppermost portion of a corresponding back member, with each of said side wall supported means including a plunger member extended radially of said container and formed with an axial cavity in the inner end thereof facing a corresponding back member, means for biasing said plunger toward a corresponding back member, and a projection on a back member receivable Within the cavity of a corre sponding plunger, with the lowermost end of each back member being releasably held at a position inwardly of the container relative to the inner end of a corresponding plunger, whereby a brush means is removed from within the container by initial disengagement of a pin from a plunger and upward movement of the brush means from a bottom Wall supported means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 655,474 Blakeslee Aug. 7, 1900 891,061 Hansen June 16, 1908 981,417 Halsey et a1. Jan. 10, 1911 1,122,165 Schoening Dec. 22, 1914 2,225,272 Home Dec. 17, 1940 2,839,769 Vacanti June 24, 1958 2,907,059 Cornett Oct. 6, 1959