# US 5,702,308 A · Miniature bowling alley game

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- Number: US 5,702,308 A
- Document ID: US5702308A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/635,737
- Filed: 1996-04-22
- Granted: 1997-12-30
- Earliest claimed: 1996-04-22
- Inventors: Delbert S. Alexander, Jr.
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5702308A

## CPC

- A63D 5/04: Indicating devices
- A63D 3/00: Table bowling games; Miniature bowling-alleys; Bowling games (games of pins A63D7/00)
- A63D: BOWLING GAMES, e.g. SKITTLES, BOCCE OR BOWLS; INSTALLATIONS THEREFOR; BAGATELLE OR SIMILAR GAMES; BILLIARDS (balls A63B37/00)

## Abstract

A miniature bowling alley game comprising a lane surface adjusted to such a height where at one end an individual could comfortably roll a miniature bowling ball towards the other end which contains a plurality of lamps backlighting a translucent panel which represents bowling pins. The game features a microcontroller and sensors which detect the speed and angle of the bowling ball as it enters the area of the pins; actual sound of the pins falling; an information panel; and more than 50 spares that can be set up for practice bowling.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A miniature bowling alley game comprising:
an elongated cabinet having a front end and back end and extending side walls;
said elongated cabinet including an alley disposed within said cabinet and positioned between said front and rear ends;
said alley being defined by a first recessed gutter running along the side of said alley, and a second recessed gutter running along the opposite side of said alley, said alley further defined by the extending side walls of said cabinet, said extending side walls extending the length of said alley and being raised above said alley and said first and second recessed gutters;
means for detecting fouls affixed to said cabinet walls having the ability to send an activation signal indicating that a foul has occurred;
said rear end including means for display comprising means for displaying a simulated bowling pin arrangement having the ability to display an individual pin or a spare combination, means for displaying information on the number of bowlers, game score and frame, and positioned above said means for displaying a simulated bowling pin arrangement;
means for sensing the position of a ball as it rolls down the alley and sending an activation signal;
said front end including means for selection having the ability to control the number of players, game mode, and practice spare combination, and further including a ball return area;
said means for displaying a simulated ten pin arrangement comprising a masked translucent panel, said masked translucent panel being angled and having a ten pin arrangement adapted to display each of said ten pins individually or in combination depicting a spare combination; and
a means for processing positioned behind said masked translucent panel and attached to said rear end, said means for processing having means for determining a first and a second ball spare combination, means for determining the speed of a ball, means for determining a sound effect, and the ability to receive said activation signal from said means for detecting fouls and said activation signal from said means for sensing.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A miniature bowling game as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for processing has the ability to determine said position of said ball, speed of said ball, a number for pins that were knocked down, and a score, said means for processing further having the ability to send a signal to said means for displaying a simulated ten pin arrangement causing it to generate a display from the group consisting of a strike or a spare combination, and the ability to send a signal to said means for displaying information causing it to display said number of pins knocked down, a strike, a spare, a frame, and said score.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

A miniature bowling game as recited in claim 2, wherein said means for processing has the ability to cause a corresponding sound effect based upon said spare combination.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

A miniature bowling game as recited in claim 3, wherein said means for displaying a simulated ten pin arrangement comprises twenty lamp shields having twenty lights attached to said masked translucent panel, said lamp shields being affixed to a printed circuit board whereby when all twenty lights are on said translucent panel displays a simulated ten pin arrangement.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

A miniature bowling game as recited in claim 4, wherein said means for processing has the ability to cause a delay in a pin display light being extinguished based upon the speed of a ball.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

A miniature bowling game as recited in claim 5, wherein said means for processing has the ability to cause said pin display light being turned off and back on simulating a wobble effect on a pin.

### Claim 7 (depends on 4)

A miniature bowling game as recited in claim 4, wherein said means for processing is a microcontroller having an associated EPROM.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

A miniature bowling game as recited in claim 5, wherein said means for sensing comprises a first row of multiple microsensors, and a second row of multiple microsensors, said first row of multiple sensors and said second row of multiple sensors being adapted in such a way so that as a ball is rolled as it passes said first row of multiple microsensors and said second row of multiple microsensors said ball shall contact a combination of the microsensors.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

A miniature bowling game as recited in claim 6, wherein said means for determining a first ball spare combination comprises the steps:
polling the first row of multiple microsensors;
saving a first row sensor position;
polling said second row of multiple microsensors;
saving a second row sensor position and converting a ball speed to a pin count delay;
retrieving said first row sensor position and applying a limiter to begin sensor analysis;
retrieving said second row sensor position and applying a second limiter for sensor analysis;
getting a random mixer count;
determining a spare combination home position and getting a spare combination pin information;
saving a first ball spare combination home position said spare combination containing pin knockdown information, and a pin count information;
sending a pin knockdown signal to said printed circuit board and sending a sound effect signal;
sending a pin count signal to said means for displaying information; and
returning for a second ball.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

A miniature bowling game as recited in claim 9, wherein said means for determining a second ball spare combination comprises the steps:
polling the first row of multiple microsensors;
saving a first row sensor position;
polling said second row of multiple microsensors;
saving a second row sensor position;
converting a ball speed to a pin count delay;
getting a random mixer count;
getting a second ball spare combination pin information and retrieving said first ball spare combination home position;
retrieving said first row sensor position and applying a limiter to begin a sensor analysis;
retrieving said second row sensor position and applying a second limiter for sensor analysis;
comparing a first ball pin knockdown information with said second ball pin knockdown information;
sending a final pin knockdown signal to said printed circuit board and sending a sound effect signal;
sending a second ball pin count signal to said means for displaying information; and
returning for next player first ball roll.

### Claim 11

An improved method for simulated bowling on a miniature bowling alley comprising the steps:
determining the number of bowlers and turning on bowler indicator lights;
starting a new frame;
polling the first row of multiple microsensors;
saving a first row sensor position;
polling said second row of multiple microsensors;
saving a second row sensor position and converting a ball speed to a pin count delay;
retrieving said first row sensor position and applying a limiter to begin sensor analysis;
retrieving said second row sensor position and applying a second limiter for sensor analysis;
getting a random mixer count;
determining a spare combination home position and getting a spare combination pin information;
saving a first ball spare combination home position, said spare combination containing pin knockdown information, and a pin count information;
determining a pin knockdown sequence and a sound effect;
sending a pin knockdown signal a means for displaying a ten pin arrangement and sending a sound effect signal;
sending a pin count signal to a means for displaying information;
returning for a second ball;
polling the first row of multiple microsensors;
saving a first row sensor position;
polling said second row of multiple microsensors;
saving a second row sensor position;
converting a ball speed to a pin count delay;
getting a random mixer count;
getting a second ball spare combination pin information and retrieving said first ball spare combination home position;
retrieving said first row sensor position and applying a limiter to begin a sensor analysis;
retrieving said second row sensor position and applying a second limiter for sensor analysis;
comparing a first ball pin knockdown information with said second ball pin knockdown information;
determining a final pin knockdown sequence and a final sound effect;
sending a final pin knockdown signal to said means for displaying a ten pin arrangement and sending a sound effect signal;
sending a second ball pin count signal to said means for displaying information; and
returning for next player first ball roll.