US3091457A

US3091457A - Bowling game apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3091457A
Application number: US149664A
Authority: US
Inventors: Everett K Mentzer; Ernest C Webb
Original assignee: Cleveland Trust Co
Current assignee: Cleveland Trust Co
Priority date: 1961-11-02
Filing date: 1961-11-02
Publication date: 1963-05-28
Anticipated expiration: 1980-05-28

Description

y 1963 E. K. MENTZER ETAL 3,091,457

BOWLING GAME APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 2, 1961 i iiil Scoring Totulizing and Printing Circuiiry INVENTORS Ernest C. Webb I Everefl K. Mentzer by (,5 M

ATTORNEKS' May 28, 1963 E. K. MENTZER ETAL 3,

BOWLING GAME APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 2, 1961 orinq,Toic|lizing J and Printing Circuitry INVENTORS Ernest C. Webb Everett K. Mentzer b5 ATTORNEYS 3,091,457 BOWLING GAME APPARATUS Everett K. Mentzer, Struthers, and Ernest C. Webb, Bay Village, Ohio, assignors, by mesne assignments, to The Cleveland Trust Co., a banking institution, trustee, Cleveland, Ohio Filed Nov. 2, 1961, Ser. No. 1459,66 1 12 Claims. (Cl. 273-54) This invention relates to bowling game apparatus, and more particularly to apparatus for automatically indicating illegal pinfall which results from pins being knocked down by a ball which leaves the bowling alley before reaching the pins.

Although not limited thereto, the present invention is particularly adapted for use with a device for automatically detecting, registering, totalizing and printing the score in a bowling game, such as that shown in copendin g application Serial No. 38,091, filed July 7, 1961. In such a system the pinifall is initially detected and thereafter registered preparatory to a totalizing and printing operation. As is known, any pinfall is illegal under the rules of the American Bowling Congress resulting from a ball which leaves the alley before reaching the pins. In the usual case, such illegal pinfall occurs when a bowler attempts to knock down an end pin by an angle delivery from one side of the alley to the other. In such a delivery it sometimes happens that the ball will leave the alley adjacent the pin deck and rebound oil the kickback plate to knock down pins. Such pinfall, of course, should not be counted in scoring the game; however the aforesaid automatic registering and totalizing apparatus, in and of itself, is not capable of distinguishing between ordinary pinfall and illegal pinfall of the type described above. Accordingly, in the absence of some type of apparatus for detecting the fact that the ball has left the alley before reaching the pins, the automatic scoring circuitry will count the illegal pinfall along with normal pinfall.

As an overall object, the present invention provides a system for detecting a bowling ball which leaves the alley before reaching the pins.

More specifically, an object of the invention is to provide a system for detecting illegal pinfall as a result of a bowling ball leaving the alley before knocking down pins.

Still another object of the invention is to provide means, in combination with an automatic bow-ling game scoring system, for disabling the scoring system to register illegal pinfall of the type described above.

In accordance with the invention, there is provided electrical switch apparatus having switch actuating means on the bowling alley kickback plates and extending along the entire length of the pin deck such that the switch apparatus will be actuated under the impact of a bowling ball at any point on the kickback plate adjacent the pin deck, together with electrical utilization apparatus responsive to actuation of the switch apparatus for indicating the fact that the ball has left the alley. The switch actuating apparatus may comprise an elastic inflated bladder which will compress under the weight of a bowling ball to actuate a pressure responsive switch, or the kickback plate adjacent the pin deck may be pivotally mounted, or supported on springs, such that it may move inwardly toward the kickback under the weight of a bowling ball to trip a limit switch or the like. Other switch actuating means may be used which are responsive to the impact of the ball adjacent the pin deck; but, in all cases, actuation of the switch will energize visual indicating means and/or will disable automatic registering and scoring apparatus from counting the pins which are knocked down after a ball rebounds from the kickback.

nited btates atent The above and other objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a bowling alley showing the manner in which a ball may leave the alley and rebound to knock down pins;

FIG. 2 is a partially broken away end view of the alley of FIG. 1, showing one embodiment of the invention for detecting a ball which leaves the alley before knocking down pins;

FIG. 3 is an illustration of another embodiment of the ball-detecting apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 4 is an end view of the bowling alley of FIG. 1 illustrating another embodiment of the invention wherein the ball is detected by means of a pivoted kickback plate; and

FIG. 5 is a side view of the pivoted kickback plate shown in FIG. 4.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1, the conventional bowling alley shown comprises the usual approach area 10 which terminates at a foul line 12. On the other side of the foul line is the alley proper 14 comprising tongue-andigroove bed stock laid on edge. The alley 14 terminates at a tail plank 16, while ahead of the tail plank is a pin deck 18 having ten fiber pin spots 26 thereon. As will be understood, the pins are placed on the pins spots 20 during a bowling game either manually or by means of an automatic pin spotting machine, not shown. On each side of the alley 14 are round bottom gutters 2 2, only one of such gutters being shown in FIG. 1. The gutters 22 extend from the foul line 12 to the pin deck 18; while along the pin deck are gutters 24 which conventionally have flat bottom surfaces, these gutters 24 communicating with the end of gutters 22 as shown.

Separating successive alleys are division boards 26 which communicate with kickbacks 28. The kickbacks extend along the length of the pin deck 18 as Well as the pit 3d behind the tail plank. A cushion plank 32 extends between the tops of the kickbacks Z8 and supports a cushion 34, substantially as shown. On the side of each kickback 28 is a kickback plate 36 facing the pins on spots 20.

In a bowling game, a bowler may attempt to knock down an end pin by an angle shot along the approximate path 38 shown in FIG. 1. It sometimes happens that the path of travel of the ball and its momentum are such that it will leave the alley before reaching the pins, rebound from the kickback 28 and then be deflected back onto the pin deck where it will knock down pins. Pins which are knocked down in this manner should, of course, not be counted in scoring the game.

As was mentioned above, the present invention is particularly adapted for use with an automatic scoring, totalizing and printing system for a bowling game of the type shown in copending application Serial No. 38,091, filed July 7, 1960. In such a system, the standing pins are detected after each ball is delivered in a bowling game, and the number of standing pins then subtracted from ten in electrical circuity to determine the number of fallen pins. The number of fallen pins is then automatically printed on a score sheet, and is also added to the cumulative number of fallen pins in previous frames of the bowling game in order to totalize the score preparatory to its being printed on the score sheet also. In the absence of some type of detecting means for indicating a condition such as that wherein the ball leaves the alley before knocking down pins, those pins knocked down illegally would be counted as normal pinfall by the automatic scoring, totalizing and printing circuitry. In accordance With the present invention, means schematically indicated at 40 in FIG. 1, are provided for detecting a ball which leaves the alley before knocking down pins, the detecting means serving also to disable automatic scoring, totalizing and printing circuitry such that it will not count the illegal pinfall.

Referring now to FIG. 2, one type of detecting means is shown which comprises a pair of

elastic bladders

42 and 44 which are secured to the sides of the kickbacks 28 just above the gutters 24 by any suitable means, not shown. Each bladder extends along the entire length of the pin deck from the tail plank 16 to the head pin and comprises an enclosure having

side walls

46 and 48 of rubber or the like which will compress under the impact of a bowling ball B which leaves the alley before knocking down pins. Connected to the

bladders

42 and 44 are

tubes

50 and 52, respectively, each of which communicates with an electrical pressure switch 54 or 55. Each pressure switch 54, 55 comprises a cylinder 56 which contains a reciprocable piston 58, this piston being urged upwardly as shown in FIG. 2 by means of coil spring 60. Each piston 58 is, in turn, connected to an electrical contact 64 which, when moved downwardly, completes a circuit to the automatic scoring, totalizing and printing circuitry 66, shown in the aforesaid application Serial No. 38,091, to disable such circuitry from printing or totalizing the number of fallen pins when the ball leaves the alley before knocking down such pins.

As shown, the

tubes

50 and 52 are connected to the cylinders 56 above the pistons 58. Initially, each closed

system comprising bladder

42 or 44 and its associated

tube

50 or 52 may be inflated with pressure of inflation being such that it will not depress the spring 60 in and of itself. Furthermore, the springs 60 are such that even though flying pins strike the bladder 42, for example, the impact of the pins will not be great enough to compress the spring 60 associated with that bladder and close its contact 64. When, however, a bowling ball B, being of much greater weight and having a greater momentum than the pins, strikes either one of the

bladders

42 or 44, its associated spring 60 will be compressed to close the contact 64 and complete the disabling circuit to the automatic scoring, totalizing and printing circuitry 66. At the same time, closure of either one of the contacts 64 will energize relay 68 to close its contact 70, thereby energizing the lamp 72 through a source of potential, such as battery 74, to visually indicate that a ball has left the alley before reaching the pins.

If desired, the closed system of

bladders

42 and 44 and their associated

tubes

50 and 52 need not be inflated. In this latter case, the strength of the flexible walls of the

bladders

42 and 44 will be such that they will not deflect under the impact of a pin, but will deflect under the weight of a moving bowling ball to compress the springs 60 and close the contacts 64. In this latter case, the

walls

46 and 48 may be reinforced with tire chord or the like, if necessary.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the

bladders

42 and 44 may be replaced by an arrangement comprising a rubber or other elastic device 76 having parallel, facing

side walls

77 and 79. Each of the facing side walls is lined, as shown, with strips of electrical conducting

material

78 and 80, the arrangement being such that when a bowling ball strikes the device 76, one of its walls will compress to make contact between the

strips

78 and 86. These strips, in turn, will be connected in a circuit to the automatic scoring, totalizing and printing circuitry 66 of FIG. 2 such that the circuit will be disabled when the

strips

78 and 80 make contact in response to a ball leaving the alley before knocking down pins. As with the

bladders

42 and 44, the walls of device 76 may be reinforced with tire chord if necessary to give them suflicient strength such that they will not collapse under the impact of a pin, but will nevertheless collapse to make contact between strips 78 and under the impact of a bowling ball which rebounds to knock down pins.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, still another embodiment of the invention is shown wherein the lower portion 81 of each kickback plate 36 is hinged as at 82, this lower portion extending beyond the main kickback plate shown in FIG. 5 so as to extend along the entire length of the pin deck from the tail plank 16 to the head pin. With the arrangement shown, there is provided a hinged flap 84 which is biased outwardly at its lower edge by means of coil springs 86. Positioned behind each of the flaps 84 are limit switches 88, the arrangement being such that when either flap is moved inwardly toward its kickback 28 in response to a bowling ball leaving the alley, the limit switch 88 will be closed to disable the automatic scoring, totalizing and printing circuitry 66. At the same time, closure of either one of the limit switches 88 will energize relay 73 to close its contact 75, thereby energizing lamp 71 through battery 78' to visually indicate the fact that the ball has left the alley as in the embodiment of FIG. 2. As will be understood, the strength of springs 86 on either one of the flaps 84 must be such that they will not compress to trip the limit switch 88 under the weight of flying pins but will nevertheless be compressed to trip the switch in response to a bowling ball.

Although the invention has been shown in connection with certain specific embodiments, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes in form and arrangement of parts may be made to suit requirements without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a bowling alley having a pin deck and at least one kickback at the side of the pin deck, the combination of means for detecting a ball which strikes the kickback and rebounds to knock down pins comprising electrical switch means actuable by a ball which strikes the kickback, and electrical utilization apparatus responsive to actuation of the switch means for indicating the fact that the ball has left the alley before knocking down pins.

2. In a bowling alley having a pin deck and a kickback on at least one side of the pin deck, the combination of means for detecting a ball which strikes the kickback and rebounds to knock down pins comprising electrical switch means mounted on said kickback and actuable by a ball which strikes the kickback and rebounds to knock down pins, and electrical utilization apparatus responsive to actuation of the switch means for indicating the fact that the ball has left the alley before knocking down pins.

3. In a bowling alley having a pin deck and at least one kickback at the side of the pin deck, the combination of means for detecting a ball which strikes the kickback adjacent the pin deck and rebounds to knock down pins comprising electrical switch apparatus having a switch actuating means extending along the entire length of the kickback adjacent the pin deck such that the switch apparatus will be actuated by the impact of a bowling ball at any point on the kickback adjacent the pin deck, and electrical utilization apparatus responsive to actuation of the switch apparatus for indicating the fact that the ball has left the alley.

4. In a bowling alley having a kickback on at least one side of the alley, the combination of means for detecting a ball which strikes the kickback comprising an inflated bladder of elastic material positioned on the side of the kickback and compressible under the impact of a bowling ball, an electrical pressure switch actuable in response to compression of the bladder, and electrical utilization apparatus responsive to actuation of the pres sure switch for indicating the fact that a bowling ball has left the alley.

5. In a bowling alley having a pin deck and a kickback on at least one side of the pin deck, the combination of means for detecting a ball which strikes the kickback adjacent the pin deck and rebounds to knock down pins, comprising an inflated bladder of elastic material positioned on the side of the kickback and extending along the entire length of the pin deck, said bladder being compressible under the impact of a bowling ball, an electrical pressure switch actuable in response to compression of the bladder, and electrical utilization apparatus responsive to actuation of the pressure switch for indicating the fact that a bowling ball has left the alley before knocking down pins.

6. In a bowling alley having a kickback on at least one side thereof, the combination of means for detecting a ball which strikes the kickback comprising an elongated elastic member positioned on the kickback and defining an enclosure with opposite side walls extending parallel to the kickback, strips of electrical conducting material on the opposite side walls, and means connecting said conducting strips in a circuit for indicating striking of a ball against the kickback, the arrangement being such that the elastic member will compress under the impact of a ball to contact said conducting strips to complete said indicating circuit.

7. In a bowling alley having a pin deck and at least one kickback on the side of the pin deck, the combination of means for detecting a ball which strikes the kickback adjacent the pin deck and rebounds to knock down pins, comprising an elongated elastic member positioned on the kickback and extending along the entire length of the pin deck, said elastic member defining an enclosure with opposite side walls extending parallel to the kickback, strips of electrical conducting material on the 0pposite side walls, said strips of electrical conducting material extending throughout the length of the pin deck, and means connecting said conducting strips in a circuit for indicating the impact of a ball against the detecting means, the arrangement being such that the elastic member will compress under the impact of a ball to contact said conducting strips and complete said indicating circuit.

8. In a bowling alley having a kickback on at least one side thereof, the combination of means for detecting a ball which rolls into the kickback comprising a horizontally movable plate on the kickback, spring means urging the plate toward the pin deck, limit switch means actuable upon movement of said plate away from the pin deck under the impact of a bowling ball, and circuit means responsive to actuation of the limit switch means for indicating the fact that ball has struck the kickback.

9. In a bowling alley having a pin deck and at least one kickback on one side of the pin deck, the combination of means for detecting a ball which strikes the kickback adjacent the pin deck and rebounds to knock down pins, comprising a horizontally movable plate on the kickback extending throughout the length of the pin deck, spring means urging said plate toward the pin deck, limit switch means actuable upon movement of said plate away from the pin deck under the impact of a bowling ball, and circuit means responsive to actuation of the limit switch means for indicating the fact that a ball has struck the kickback.

10. In a bowling alley having a kickback on at least one side thereof, the combination of means for detecting a ball which strikes the kickback and rebounds, comprising a plate member extending along the length of the pin deck and pivotally connected at its upper edge to the kickback, spring means interposed between the kickback and the lower edge of said plate member, limit switch means actuable upon pivotal movement of the lower edge of the plate member away from the pin deck in response to the impact of a bowling ball, and electrical utilization apparatus responsive to actuation of the limit switch means for indicating the fact that the ball has struck the kickback.

11. In a bowling alley having a pin deck, a kickback on at least one side of the pin deck, and apparatus for automatically registering pinfall and totalizing the score in a bowling game; the combination of means for disabling said registering and totalizing apparatus when a :ball strikes the kickback and rebounds to knock down pins comprising electrical switch means. actuable by a ball which strikes the kickback, and means responsive to actuation of the switch means for preventing said apparatus from registering and totalizing pinfall resulting from a ball which rebounds from the kickback.

12. In a bowling alley having a pin deck, at least one kickback at the side of the pin deck, and apparatus for automatically registering pinfall and totalizing the score in a bowling game; the combination of an electrical switch device having switch actuating means extending along the entire length of the kickback adjacent the pin deck such that the switch device will be actuated by the impact of a bowling ball at any point on the kickback adjacent the pin deck, and means responsive to actuation of the switch device for preventing said apparatus from registering and totalizing pinfall resulting from a ball which strikes the kickback and rebounds to knock down pins.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,645,491 Volman July 14, 1953 2,784,001 Simjian Mar. 5, 1957 2,894,752 Simjian July 14, 1959 2,980,424 Sanders et a1. Apr. 18, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 513,011 Germany Nov. 21, 1930

Claims

1. IN A BOWLING ALLEY HAVING A PIN DECK AND AT LEAST ONE KICKBACK AT THE SIDE OF THE DECK, THE COMBINATION OF MEANS FOR DETECTING A BALL WHICH STRIKES THE KICKBACK AND REBOUNDS TO KNOCK DOWN PINS COMPRISING ELECTRICAL SWITCH MEANS ACTUABLE BY A BALL WHICH STRIKES THE KICKBACK, AND ELECTRICAL UTILIZATION APPARATUS RESPONSIVE TO ACTUATION OF THE SWITCH MEANS FOR INDICATING THE FACT THAT THE BALL HAS LEFT THE ALLEY BEFORE KNOCKING DOWN PINS.