Gripper kit for bowling ball lift and return mechanism
OwnerLeRoy Thomas Warren JR., Douglas Scott Wilsoninventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A gripper kit for a vertical-type bowling ball lift and return mechanism that is suited for the lifting and handling of bowling balls covered with various amounts and types of oil. The kit comprises a combination of an endless belt, a tension bracket, a pair of track rail covers, and tapered and specially designed thimbles to guide and facilitate delivery of the ball into the channel between the endless belt and the outer surface of the track rails. The thimbles are tapered so as to ensure consistent and smooth entry of the bowling ball into the conveying belt area. During operation the bowling ball is conveyed along the channel with minimal slippage irrespective of the amount of oil that accumulates on the bowling ball.
Claims22
A gripper kit for installation on a ball lift bowling ball return mechanism having opposed pulleys connected by an internal frame structure, and track rails opposing the opposed pulleys, the gripper kit comprising:
- an endless belt positioned about the opposed pulleys;
- track rail covers covering the track rails;
- and
- tapered thimbles to guide and facilitate delivery of a ball into a channel formed between the endless belt and at least a surface of a portion of the track rail covers.
A gripper kit for installation on a ball lift return mechanism having a frame structure and track rails opposing the frame structure, the gripper kit comprising:
- an endless belt positioned about opposed pulleys disposed on the frame structure;
- a tension bracket attaching a mechanical linkage to the frame structure, the tension bracket having elongated slots for adjustment of position of a ball lift without removal of the tension bracket;
- a plurality of rail covers covering the track rails;
- and
- means for reducing a number of times a ratchet assembly actuates to lift a ball into a ball return entry area.
A ball return mechanism, comprising:
- an internal frame structure;
- two opposed pulleys connected by the internal frame structure;
- an endless belt caused to turn by the two opposed pulleys;
- a pair of track rails opposing the endless belt, the pair of track rails including rail track covers, the endless belt and the pair of track rails forming a channel therebetween;
- thimbles provided at a lower portion of the pair of track rails;
- a lift arm assembly attached proximate lower end portions of the track rails proximate to the thimbles;
- and
- a mechanical linkage attached to the internal frame structure through an upper support bracket having a series of elongated slots that provide adjustment capability of the upper support bracket and position of a ball lift without removal of the upper support bracket from the mechanical linkage and the internal frame structure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.