Pin-setting apparatus for bowling or skittle lanes
AssigneeBowling Nederland B.V.
InventorCornelius De Lange
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention relates to a pin-setting apparatus for bowling or skittle lanes (3′-6′) comprising a plurality of pins (3-6), wherein each pin is connected to an associated string (3′-6′). The apparatus comprises for each pin (3-6) a rotatable pulley (13-16) arranged to roll up and/or off the associated string (3′-6′) and detecting means arranged to detect a movement of the pin (3-6) when hit directly or indirectly by a bowling ball, and activating means arranged to rotate the pulley (13-16) so as to roll off the string (3′-6′) as soon as the pin (3-6) gets hit. This way, the pin (3-6) will not be obstructed by possible tension in the string (3′-6′) and will move as if it was not attached at all.
Claims8
A pin-setting apparatus for bowling or skittle lanes comprising a plurality of pins, wherein each pin is connected to an associated string, said apparatus comprising for each pin:
- a rotatable pulley arranged to roll up and/or off said associated string;
- a detecting means arranged to detect a movement of said pin;
- activating means arranged to rotate said pulley,
- wherein said apparatus further comprises a controller arranged to control said activating means in such a way that a particular string is actively rolled off as soon as the associated pin has been hit.
Method of controlling pins on a bowling or skittle lane, wherein each of a plurality of pins is connected to an associated string, said method comprising:
- rolling up and/or off said associated string using a separate rotatable pulley;
- detecting a movement of each pin using detecting means;
- rotating said pulley so as to actively roll off said associated string using said rotatable pulley.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.