US3051486A - Guide means for unsighted bowlers and the like - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 28, 1962 w. J. ZENCHENKO 3,051,436

GUIDE MEANS FOR UNSIGHTED BOWLERS AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 16, 1959 INVENTOR. WILLIAM J. ZENCHENKO ATTORNEY 3,051,486 Patented Aug. 28, 1962 3,051,486 GUIDE MEANS FOR UNSIGHTED BOWLERS AND THE LIKE William J. Zenchenlio, Milwaukee, Wis. (1123 Jenifer, Madison 3, Wis.) Filed Dec. 16, 1959, Ser. No. 860,002 8 Claims. (Cl. 273-54) This invention relates generally to the manufacture of sporting equipment and more particularly to guide means especially adapted to assist unsighted persons to participate in sports such, for example, as bowling, duck pins, horseshoes and like contests which require the participant to especially orient his body and its movement relative to the course upon which the game is played.

One important and generally recognized technique to help handicapped persons lead happy and useful lives is to encourage them to participate in the endeavors of life which at first would be considered beyond their abilities.

Thus today, visually handicapped people are found as lawyers, pianists, operators of oifice and factory machinery and other vocations, seemingly impossible for them because of their handicap. In further support of the courage of these remarkable people, we read about golf tournaments, and like events in which the unsighted not only participate, but achieve results which would generally be considered quite good if obtained by persons who were not handicapped.

The present invention is especially designed to advance an area of activity for the unsighted which only recently has begun to grow in popularity, namely, bowling and its related sports.

The unsighted and visually handicapped bowler is obviously confronted with a problem, particularly in the art of spare bowling, because of the extreme accuracy required of both alignment and delivery if satisfactory results are to be obtained.

The only known guide means heretofore available to help unsighted bowlers orient themselves relative to the pin set is a hand rail permanently mounted to the alley adjacent the approach. These hand rails are not significanbly unlike the many hand rails normally encountered in building stairways, that is, they comprise a rail mounted in generally parallel superposition to the surface upon which the user moves. rail is mounted in a substantially horizontal plane in spaced parallel relation-ship to the alley boards by a plurality (usually two or three) of upstanding supports which in turn are rigidly secured into the alley boards.

The handicapped bowler uses such a rail by grasping it in his left hand (assuming a right handed performer), and holding onto the rail throughout his approach and delivery.

Such rails, while providing some help, possess several disadvantages and the need for a useful and improved guide means still persists.

One serious disadvantage of the rail type of guide, for example, is that it, as presently used, requires the bowler to keep his non-throwing arm constantly occupied in holding onto the rail whereas good bowling form requires the non-throwing arm being used in obtaining and maintaining both balance and timing during the delivery of the ball to the playing surface.

Another disadvantage of the hand rail type of guide means is that it does not provide a direct positive guide for the bowlers feet even though foot positioning is another important and well recognized requirement for good bowling form.

Still another disadvantage of the rail type bowling guide is that it provides only lateral alignment (and that only imperfectly, as indicated above) and provides no direct positive indication of the bowlers longitudinal Thus, in bowling alleys, the hand position, that is, his position relative to the back an foul line.

The present invention is predicated upon my creation of a new and improved guide means for aiding the visually handicapped and unsighted bowlers to orient themselves relative to the approach surface of a bowling alley and includes especially designed indicia means in coaction therewith which provide not only lateral but positive longitudinal orientation of the handicapped bowler relative to the bowling alley as shall be hereinafter more fully described. Thus, as will appear, means are provided which are equally suitable for use in competition and in the training of new bowlers.

Accordingly, one of the prime objects of the present invention is to provide improved guide means for unsighted and visually handicapped bowlers which will provide them both lateral and longitudinal orientation of their bodies relative to the pin set without impairing either their free approach or delivery of the ball.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide improved guide means for unsighted and visually handicapped bowlers which includes direct positive means to enable the bowler to easily and quickly orient his feet both as to direction of approach and distance from the foul line.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide improved guide means for unsighted bowlers which may readily be employed on any conventional bowling alley without special attachment or mountings which otherwise would disfigure the alley and impair its enjoyment by other bowlers.

These and still other objects as shall hereinafter appear are fulfilled to a remarkably unexpected extent by the present invention in a manner easily discerned from the following detailed description of several exemplary embodiments of the invention, especially when it is read in conjunction with the attached drawing.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a conventional bowling alley with which guide means embodying the present invention is employed;

FIG. 2 is :an enlarged plan view of the guide means of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the guide means shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary isometric view of a portion of the guide means of FIG. 2 showing the indicating arm disposed both in operative and (in phantom) in retracted position;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary isometric view of the portion of the guide means of FIG. 4 having its indicating arm detached to illustrate another embodiment of the present invention;'

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary isometric exploded view of another embodiment of guide means in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a side elevation, broken away for clarity, of still another embodiment of guide means in accordance with the present invention.

While, as shall hereinafter become apparent, the present invention lends itself to a number of sports and games which require visually handicapped persons to,

laterally and longitudinally orient themselves relative -to the playing surface of the game; the sport of bowling shall be especially considered in the description that fol- I As herein shown, however, alley consists of playing surface 11 and approach surface 12 contiguous at and separated by transversely extending dividing or foul line 13 at an appropriate distance back from the head pin 14 of a conventional pin set up 15. Alley 10 thus extends longitudinal-1y between, what will be herein called back line 16 and front line 17, and is bounded laterally by sides 18, 19 respectively. Adjacent each of side-s 18, 19 is disposed a gutter 20 and a ball return 21, which returns balls from the pit area 22 through a ball brake 23 to a rack 24, in the normal fashion.

The approach surface 12 normally extends back (relative to the set up from foul line 13 for a distance of about fifteen feet to back line 16 since fifteen feet has been found to provide ample approaching distance for even the most enthusiastic of bowlers. As a practical matter, most bowlers find a twelve foot approach more than adequate while the visually handicapped bowler will usually use an even shorter approach, for example, about nine or about six feet.

Of course, irrespective of the approaching distance that a particular bowler finds best suited to his form, the sighted person is able to satisfactorily orient himself relative to playing surface 11 and pin set up 15 by merely looking at the alley. It is not so easily done by the unsighted or visually handicapped person.

Thus, it is to the proposition of providing a sight substitute for visually handicapped persons and thereby resolving the above described difficulty that the present invention is directed as shall now be specifically described.

As shown in FIG. 1, a guide means 30 manufactured in accordance with the present invention is carried by approach surface 12 adjacent one side of the alley 1!], for example, side 18. Of course, while the arrangement illustrated shows guide means 30 disposed at the left (relative to the drawing) end 18 of alley 10 it is understood that the guide means 30 may readily be adapted for positioning at the right edge 19 of the approach surface 12 with equal facility.

One embodiment of guide means 30, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, comprises an elongated strip 3 1 of generally rectangular cross section and having a plurality of weight means 32 disposed therein in axially spaced relationship to each other. Weight means 32 are fabricated of a suitable dense material, such for example as cast iron, steel, dense plastics and the like, and are sufficient in number so that strip 3 1 and weight means 32 coact to hold themselves in place when laid upon the approach surface 12 of the alley 10.

On the top surface 33 of strip 31, suitable touch sensi tive indicia 34 are provided which, as shown in FIG. 3, extend upwardly therefrom out of the plane thereof. Any Braille type system, i.e., a code which communicates via the readers sense of touch, may be employed in the practice of this invention. One system, for example, could employ one raised rib 35 at a first selected distance, eg. three feet, from the end 36 of strip 31 contiguous with foul line '13; two raised ribs 37 at a second preselected distance, e.g., six feet, from end 36; three raised ribs 38 at a third preselected distance, e.g. nine feet, from end 36; and so on. Thus, upon selection of a suitable touch responding code, the unsighted bowler may readily determine his exact position back from foul line 13.

The embodiment of indicia means 34 disposed on surface 33, as shown in FIG, 2, will be readily utilized by the visually handicapped bowler by detection of the Braille members, that is, ridge members 35, 37, 38, through the soft sole of his bowling shoe. Thus, it can be seen that guide means 30 provides positive orientation for the bowler with respect both to one edge of the approach surface 12 (by marking the edge) and also with respect to the distance he stands back of foul line 13 (by means of the indicia).

Guide means 30 further comprises, as shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of outwardly folding arm members 41, 42, 43 which may be employed either in lieu of or in conjunction with the aforementioned indicia. Each of the arm members 41, 42, 43 are suitably attached to strip 31 so that when extended into an operative position in the manner hereinafter described, each arm member 41, 42, 43 will lie generally normal to strip 31 and generally parallel to each other and to foul line 13.

One suitable means shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 for attaching arm members 41, 42, 43 to strip 31 (which in its preferred form carries the aforementioned weight means 32 coincident with the several indicia points) comprises a suitable hinge 44 having first and second plates 45, 46 pivotally joined as by pin 47. Hinge plate 45 is seecured to the arm member, for example arm member 42, in any suitable fashion as by screws and the like (not shown) while hinge plate 46 is attached to strip 31 preferably in a detachable fashion, as with an inwardly extending pin means 48 insertable within a pin receiving means 49 defined at predetermined locations along strip 31.

One modification of the embodiment of FIG. 2, comprises disposing Braille indicia means -34, previously described as on the upper surface of strip 31, upon the outreaching ends 55, 56, 57 of each of the arm members 41, 42, 43 respectively, as is indicated at 34a in FIG. 2. This embodiment has been shown in conjunction with the embodiment of FIG. 2 for ease of illustration only, it being understood that when indicia means 34a are disposed as described, the disposition of means 34 upon surface 33 of strip 31 may be eliminated. Thus, when means 34 are positioned (as 3411) upon outreaching ends 55, 56', 57 of arm members 41, 42, 43, respectively, the unsighted bowler will determine his actual distance from foul line 13, not with his foot as before but with his fingers. In both embodiments, it should be noted that the indicia rely upon the bowlers sense of touch to inform him of his position relative to foul line 13.

When the bowler has ascertained the longitudinal position he desires to be relative to foul line 13, he easily and quickly actuates the appropriate arm member, such for example, as arm member 41, until it lays flat on the approach surface 12.

The several arm members 41, 42, 43 are provided with thickness, such as from about /2 to about 1 /2 inches but sufficient to provide a curb-like surface 51 against which the bowler may abut the heels 52 of his shoes 53 in the manner shown in connection with arm member 41 in FIG. 2.

Thus, the bowler orients himself by placing his left foot in the corner '54 defined by the intersection of the appropriate arm member, for example, arm member 42, and the strip member 31 and thereafter achieves final orientation, positively both laterally and longitudinally, by side stepping his right foot and thence his left foot an appropriate distance While maintaining his heels 52 abutted against curb 51. Thus, the bowler readily reaches the exact position and alignment he believes required for the particular bowling shot he seeks to make. The bowler will, of course, orient himself in the same fashion irrespective of whether a six, nine or even a twelve foot approach is preferred.

The embodiment of guide means 30 shown in FIG. 3 comprises an elongated strip 31 having generally rectangular cross section and a base surface 60 which is sufliciently wide to provide stability to the strip and extended beyond the extremities of weight means 32 (shown by the dotted lines as embedded within the strip).

The outer surface 61 .of strip 31, that is, the surface which faces away from approach surface 12, is plain while the inner surface 62, that is, the surface of strip 31 which faces toward approach surface 12, is provided with fastener receiving means 49 strategically disposed therealong, as previously described.

Since fastener receiving means 49 have a direct relationship with the relative positions of indicia means 34, as explained herein, means 49 will be defined in surface 62 at preselected 'distances from strip end 36 which are substantially identical to the preselected distances of indicia means '34.

It is of course understood that the description of three foot increments in connection with indicia means 34, 34a and fastener receiving means 49 is exemplary only and that these distances can be changed or the increments increased to suit the need of a bowler or a group of bowlers employing the guide.

Fastener receiving means 49 may be defined in any suitable manner as by drilling, reaming, boring, cutting and the like and are characterized only in that the means essentially complements the external surface of pin 48 extending inwardly from plate 46 of hinge 44. Thus, hinge 44 is detachably secured to strip 31 by insertion of pin 48 into means 49 to effect suflicient penetration to hold and carry pin 48, hinge 44 and the other parts connected thereto.

As previously indicated, pin 48 extends inwardly from plate 46 of hinge 44 to which it may be integrally formed as by stamping or molding or secured as by welding and the like.

Inasmuch as it is desired for the several indicia herein described to be positioned as exactly as possible, it is preferred that all parts directly associated with the inner connection of the several members be centered.

FIG. 3 further shows a type of binge which. is found to contribute to the accuracy and ease of operating the guide means. This hinge is a so-called piano or internal type hinge which, upon folding out of the arm member, permits the arm member to lay uniformly on the alley.

It is anticipated that the pivot pin 47 of hinge 44 could be assembled externally of plates 45, 46 so that the arm member, when folded out, will lie partially spaced from the alley surface at the portion adjacent strip 3.1 to provide a workable but somewhat less desirable arrangement than the full engagement previously described.

FIG. 3 further shows one manner of associating strip member 31 and Weight means 32 in which strip 31 surrounds and embeds the several Weight means 32. It is found that the arrangement can be formed integrally in the normal fashion for embedding members in rubber, plastic, and like materials such as by conventional injection, extrusion and like technique-s which techniques are sufficiently well known that they need not be further described here. It has also been found that strip member 31 may also be prepared integrally and thereafter provided with strategically disposed pockets 64 into which precast weight means 32a are inserted as shown in FIG. 4.

Thus, while it is preferred that weight means 32, 32a be carried by strip 31 to provide a relatively low center of gravity for strip 31, add strength for the attachment of arm members 41, 42 and 43, and have a protective layer therebeneath to prevent weight means 32 from scratching the alley surface, other manners of achieving these results will undoubtedly occur from this disclosure and be found to provide at least acceptable results.

The preferred relationship of the several arm members to indicia means 34 is shown in FIG. 4, wherein it is apparent that pin 48, fastener receiving means 49 and marker 37 align with each other. Further, a preferred relationship between the thicknesses of strip 31 and of arm member 42 is shown where arm member 42 may be relatively thinner than strip 31 since, as indicated, arm member 42 can provide the desired heel curb 65 with less thickness than is desired for the curb provided by strip surface 62 for full contact with the side of the bowlers foot. If desired, the arm members may be thickened to correspond to the thickness of strip 31.

FIG. 5 shows a precast weight means 32a for use with strip 31 as shown in FIG. 4. A further modification of indicia means is shown where the means, identified at 34b, is precast directly into the weight and fastener receiving means 49 is aligned therewith.

It should be further noted that in sports where lateral orientation is fixed and a guide for longitudinal orientation alone is needed, the unsighted may employ guide means 30 with the arm members 41, 42, 43 detached. Thus, while this arrangement is not as well suited for the sport of bowling as shown in connection with the embodiments described above, it fulfills a need for use in court-type sports which require merely the longitudinal orientation of the participant. If the means is to be employed only in connection with such sports, it Wlll not be necessary to define fastener receiving means 49 in surface 62 and this surface and surface 61 can both be left plain.

Another embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 6 and comprises an elongated strip 71 having an axially extending longitudinal channel 72 defined therein and opening into upper surface 73 of the strip 71. Channel 72 as shown resembles an inverted T having a Wider lower portion 74 and a narrow upper portion 75 extending between channel portion 74 and surface 73. Strategically disposed along strip 71 and at preselected distances from end surface 76 are a plurality of slots 77, 78, 79. Each of the slots, for example, slot 77, extend inwardly from the curb-like surface 80 of strip 71 into channel portion 75 and downwardly from strip surface 73 into channel portion 74 for a purpose to be hereinafter more fully explained.

An arm member 81 having pin means 82, partially inserted therein and extending outwardly therefrom, is axially adapted for movable insertion into channel 72. Pin means 82 comprises a shank portion 83, extending partially into a pin receiving means 84 defined in the bottom surface 88 of arm member 81 in the manner of pin 43 and means 49 as previously described, and a head portion 85. Head portion is preferably spherular in shape and has a diameter larger than the width of channel portion 75 so that once the head portion 85 has been introduced into channel 72 from the end thereof, to attach arm member 81 to strip 71, it can only be withdrawn out the ends of the strip. It is further desirable, that the height of channel portion 74 be about equal to the diameter of the spherular head 85 whereupon when arm member 81 is so positioned relative to strip 71 that pin means 82 is in registry with one of slots 77, 78, 79, the arm member 81 may be readily rotated through a 90 degree are between a vertical position and the approach surface 12 of the alley 10.

It is further anticipated that a set up indicator may be provided on the outboard end of arm members 81 as by casting raised numerals thereupon identifying the several pins of the setup so that the bowler may easily refresh his recollection for spare bowling as to where the several pins, identified by the score keeper, are positioned. Such an indicator will be disposed in the manner of indicia 34a described above.

This embodiment thus presents an arrangement in which only arm member is necessary which may be readily adjusted, by sliding pin means 82 axially along longitudinal channel 72 while maintaining head portion 85 in channel portion 74, to any of the preselected lengths desired by the bowler. It is also to be noted that a preferred placement of pin receiving means 84 and depth of slots 77, 78, 79 will enable arm member 81, when pivoted laterally in the manner described, to lay in complete engagement with the alley.

It is, of course, considered that variations of these dimensions would constitute merely a less desirable practice rather than an avoidance of the present teaching.

Another modification of the present invention is shown in FIG. 7 and comprises an elongated strip 31 having weight means 32 embedded therein and carried by base surface 60 and a plurality of touch sensitive indicia 35, 37, 38 disposed upon the upper surface 33 thereof for informing the user his distance from strip end 36 as previously described. A plurality of pin receiving means 4-9 are defined in the inner surface 62 of the strip preferably coincident with the deposition of weight means 32 and extending thereinto.

To this basic structure, which substantially corresponds to the first embodiment described, is added, adjacent each end of strip 31, a downwardly extended bore 86, 87 for receiving and holding vertical standards 88, 89, respectively, and supporting a generally horizontal rail fit In this fashion the bowlers who have learned by and may still need .a hand rail guide are provided with this feature while still able to realize some of the advantages of the present invention to orient them relative to the foul line in the fashion described. Thus, if a bowler is conditioned by habit to the rail or is training to learn by the new guide, this modification provides great utility. Still further, it is possible for the bowler who may also desire to orient himself by the extension of the arm member to have his wish fulfilled.

In operation the unsighted bowler, whom, as previously indicated, has been chosen to exemplify a user of the present invention will, with his first ball, assume his strike position in the manner previously described. Each bowler, of course, depending on the pattern which his ball takes, has his own special spot where he repeatedly stands to achieve a strike hit with his ball. In this manner, the bowler in FIG. 2, who has been shown to prefer .a three foot approach from the left center of the alley, advances forward along the edge of the approach surface until his touch informs him that he has located the three foot indicia 35. He next pivots the corresponding arm member 41 toward him and down wardly until it comes into contact with the floor. Next the bowler abuts his left foot against the inner surface 62 of strip member 31 so that his heel 52 is also in contact with curb surface 51. The bowler next sidesteps the distance which his experience has indicated him to need, and from here, his desired and absolutely oriented location, he approaches and delivers the ball in his customary fashion.

For spare bowling by the unsighted, it is normal that the leave (i.e., which pins stand) is announced whereupon the bowler merely readily locates and assumes the position he recalls to be necessary for that leave in the same manner he located his strike position.

As shown in the attached drawing and the foregoing description it is thus apparent that improved means have been provided whereupon the aforementioned objects are readily fulfilled and the unsighted participant in courtbased athletic contests is thus readily able to positively orient himself both longitudinally and laterally relative to the court upon which he is to participate.

To install the guide means is easily achieved by sim ply laying strip member 31 on approach surface 112 adjacent the edge thereof. If the arm members have been detached, they are readily rendered operable merely by introducing the respective pins in their corresponding pin means.

It is, of course, understood that the description of this device for right handed bowling is merely a matter of convenience since the arm members may be provided with suflicien-t length to completely traverse the bowling surface or the strip member may be provided With pin receiving means, of either the bore or slot type described, on both sides thereof whereupon the guide means hecomes interchangeable regardless of what hand bowler is using it.

In the latter instance, utility for left handed bowling is readily achieved from a right handed installation either by sliding the guide means over to the right hand edge of the alley and relocating or duplicating the arm members, by turning the guide means end for end, or by providing a means adjacent each edge of the approach. All of the arrangements have been found work-able while the latter is perhaps the most convenient.

It is still further understood that while several specific embodiments and modifications are herein described, they are presented to exemplify the present invention and not to limit it. Instead, the present invention is intended to cover all modifications, alternate eonstructions and applications which fall within the spirit and scope of this disclosure, especially as it is defined by the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

1. Guide means for unsighted bowlers comprising: a weighted elongated strip having chamiel means defined longitudinally thereof and slot means extending transversely of said channel means in a predetermined spaced relationship to each other and to at least one end of said strip; and an arm member having pin means depending from the bottom thereof removably insertable into said channel means and axially slid-able therealo-ng between preselected ones of said slot means where, upon registry of said pin means with said slot means, said arm member is pivotable relative to said strip member through an are extending at least from the vertical to the horizontal planes of said strip member, said elongated strip being positionable upon and in preselected relationship to a bowling alley whereupon said are member ooacts with said strip to orient an unsighted bowler relative to said alley.

2. Guide means for unsighted bowlers comprising: a weighted elongated strip having channel means defined therein extending longitudinally thereof and a plurality of slot means extending laterally from said channel means in a predetermined spaced relationship to each other and to at least one end of said strip; an arm member; and pin means having a shank portion and a head portion, said shank portion being partially inserted into said arm member and extending therefrom into said head portion, said head portion being of a dimension sufiicient to rotate in but not vertically retract from said channel portion, said pin means being slidable axially along said channel portion between preselected ones of said slot means where, upon registry of said pin means with said slot means, said arm member is pivotable, relative to said strip member, through an arc extending at least from the vertical to the horizontal planes of said strip member, said strip member being positionable upon and in preselected relationship to a bowling alley whereupon said arm member ooacts with said strip member to orient an unsighted bowler relative to said alley.

3. Guide means for unsighted bowlers comprising: an elongated strip member having channel means defined therein extending longitudinally thereof and a plurality of slot means extending laterally from said channel means in a predetermined spaced relationship to each other and to at least one end of said strip, said channel means having an enlarged lower portion and a narrow upper portion extending upwardly from said lower portion to the upper surface of said strip; an arm member;

H and pin means carried by said arm member having a shank portion and a head portion, said head portion being of a dimension rotatable within said lower portion of said channel means but not passable through said upper portion of said channel means, said pin means being slidable axially along said channel means between first preselected positions intermediate said slot means, where said arm member is laterally stationary relative to said strip member, and second preselected positions in registry with said slot means, where said arm member is laterally pivotable relative to said strip member, said strip member being positionable upon and in preselected relationship to a bowling alley whereupon said arm member ooacts with said strip member to orient an unsight'ed bowler relative to said alley.

4. Guide means for unsighte-cl bowlers and the like comprising: an elongated strip member; a plurality of discrete weight means carried by said strip member and ooacting therewith to maintain said strip member in a preset location upon and relative to a bowling alley; a plurality of touch sensitive indicia carried by said strip member in predetermined spaced relationship to at least one end of said stn'p member; a plurality of pin receiving means defined in at least one side of said stnip member, one each of said pin receiving mean-s being in vertically spaced laterally coincident relationship to each one of said indicia; a plurality of elongated arm members; hinge means for each arm member comprising a first and second plate and pivot means for p-ivotally joining said plates, said first plate having pin means extending outwardly therefrom in generally normal relationship thereto for removable insertion in said pin receiving means, said second plate being attached to an end of said arm member whereby said arm member, upon insertion of said pin means into said pin receiving means, is pivotable laterally relative to said strip member to positively mark the preselected distance revealed by said touch sensitive indicia and coact with said strip member to orient an unsighted bowler relative to said alley.

5. Guide means for unsighted bowlers comprising: an elongated strip member having a plurality of uncovered pockets disposed in axially spaced relationship to each other in the upper surface of said strip member, said pockets being arranged in a predetermined spaced relationship to at least one end of said strip member; a plurality of weight means each having touch sensitive indicia integrally formed in the top surface thereof and disposed one in each of said uncovered pockets whereby said strip is maintained in a preselected position upon and relative to a bowling alley and said indicia protrude from said pockets to reveal the predetermined spaced relationship of said pockets relative to said end of said strip member; a pin receiving means extending transversely of said strip member in corresponding relationship to each of said indicia; and an arm member associated with each receiving means having pin means attached thereto, said pin means coacting with said pin receiving means whereupon said arm member is pivotable laterally relative to said strip member to align the heels of an unsighted bowler with said indicia.

6. Guide means for unsighted bowlers comprising: a weighted elongated strip member; a plurality of pin receiving means extending transversely of said strip member into at least one side thereof in axially spaced relationship to each other and in predetermined spaced relationship to at least one end of said strip; and a plurality of arm members, each having pin means pivotally attached thereto at one end thereof to define a pivot therefor, said pin means being removably insertable into one of said pin receiving means whereby said arm member is pivotable through an upper external quadrant defined by the vertical and lateral horizontal axes passing through said pivot.

7. Guide means for unsighted bowlers comprising: a weighted elongated strip member positionable in a preselected location upon and relative to a bowling alley; a plurality of sockets defined in at least one side of said strip member in predetermined spaced relationship to one end thereof; an arm member; hinge means having a first portion connected to one end of said arm member and a second portion pivotable relative to said first portion, said second portion having a pin member extending normal thereto and removably insertable in one of said sockets whereupon said arm member, upon insertion of said pin member into said socket, is pivotable laterally relative to said strip member and coacts therewith to positively orient an unsighted bowler relative to said alley.

8. Guide means for unsighted bowlers comprising: a Weighted elongated strip member positionable in a preselected location upon and relative to a bowling alley; a plurality of sockets defined in at least one side of said strip member in predetermined spaced relationship to one end thereof; an arm member; hinge means connected to one end of said arm member and touch sensitive indicia carried by the other end thereof, said hinge means having a portion extending away from said arm member and pivotable relative thereto, said portion having a pin member extending normal thereto and removably insertable in one of said sockets whereupon said arm member, upon insertion of said pin member into said socket, is pivotable laterally relative to said strip member and coacts therewith to positively orient an unsighted bowler relative to said alley.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 630,005 Praeger Aug. 1, 1899 1,517,555 Graham Dec. 2, 1924 1,841,043 Moore Jan. 12, 1932 FOREIGN PATENTS 301,443 Italy Oct. 4, 1932 575,977 Germany May 5, 1933

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