Bowling alley game
AssigneeMarvin Glass & Associates
InventorsJeffrey D. Breslow, Eugene Jaworski, Tom Kenzo Sakoda
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A bowling game apparatus is disclosed which includes an automatic pin-spotting device. The pin-spotting device is mounted for vertical reciprocal movement generally above the pin end of the alley to position a plurality of pins, conventionally ten, on the end of the alley and to engage and hold the pins while the alley is cleared prior to a player's second ball. The pin clearing operation is effected by a pivotally mounted rear alley portion which pivots downwardly after a first ball, to dump the fallen pins into a pit at the end of the alley. An electrical control system moves the pin-spotting device and the pin clearing mechanism through the same operations each time the electrical system is manually actuated by a player of the game.
Claims17
A bowling alley game including an automatic pin clearing apparatus, comprising:
- a bowling alley having a pit at one end thereof;
- a pin supporting, tiltable alley portion at the end of said alley adjacent said pit, said tiltable alley portion being pivotally connected to the end of said alley for movement between a generally horizontal position, coplanar with the alley, and a pin clearing position whereat the tiltable alley portion is pivoted downwardly with respect to said alley causing pins thereon to be transferred to the pit;
- drive means for moving the tiltable alley portion between its respective positions;
- and
- a manual actuator connected to said drive means for initiating operation thereof.
A method for clearing fallen pins from a bowling game apparatus including an alley having a pivotally connected tiltable alley portion at the pin end thereof and a pin holding means for receiving a plurality of bowling pins and releasably supporting said pins generally about their necks, comprising the steps of:
- grasping the standing pins generally about their neck;
- pivoting said tiltable alley portion downwardly about said pivotal connection to cause the pins thereon to be transferred off the end of the tiltable alley portion;
- pivoting said tiltable alley portion back to its horizontal position;
- and
- releasing the standing pins for support by the alley.
A bowling alley game comprising, in combination:
- a pin clearing apparatus including a bowling alley having a pin supporting, tiltable alley portion connected to the end thereof for movement between a generally horizontal position, coplanar with the alley, and a pin clearing position whereat the tiltable alley portion is pivoted downwardly with respect to the alley permitting any fallen pins to be removed by gravitational forces, selectively operable first drive means for moving the tiltable alley portion between its respective positions;
- a pin spotter including a housing mounted for generally vertical, reciprocal movement between a first elevated position above the tiltable alley portion and a second lowered position generally adjacent the tiltable alley portion, means for positioning a plurality of pins therein, and pin holding means including locking means for engaging the necks of a plurality of pins for support therein;
- selectively operable second drive means for moving the pin spotter between its respective positions upon manual actuation thereof;
- and
- limit switch means associated with said second drive means for initiating operation of said first drive means after the pin spotter reaches a predetermined position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.