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US 9,192,851 B2Granted
Bowling ball and pin separator
OwnerSteven Lanie McCloudinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bowling ball and pin separator to prevent bowling pins from being caught up by a ballwheel within an electromechanical pinsetter machine. The separator includes a base plate, a hinge with a spring, and a rigid arm. The hinge connects the rigid arm to the base plate, and the spring provides sufficient tension such that only the weight of a bowling ball is enough to cause the arm to be moved. In certain embodiments, the rigid arm is an elongated member having a plurality of bends.
Claims18
A pinsetter device, comprising:
- a. a pinsetter casing;
- b. a ballwheel device within said casing for lifting a bowling ball to be returned;
- and
- c. a ball and pin separator, said ball and pin separator comprising:
- i. a base plate for attaching to the pinsetter casing next to a lift rod base to a first side,
- ii. a movable rigid arm having a distal end that rests a distance from the ballwheel device sufficient to prevent bowling pins from entering the ballwheel device, and
- i. said base plate having a hinge mounted thereon, and having a spring connected at one end to the base plate, and the spring connected at another end to a proximal end of the rigid arm with the rigid arm connected to the hinge and to the spring in a manner to apply sufficient spring tension to urge the rigid arm into a position blocking entry into the ballwheel device, and sufficient tension to prevent said rigid arm from moving when contacted at the distal end by a pin to thereby prevent the pin from entering the ballwheel device, and insufficient tension to prevent the right arm from moving when contacted by a bowling ball to move and allow the bowling ball into the ballwheel device.
4 more elements
In a pinsetter device having a casing with a ballwheel device therein for lifting a bowling ball to a ball return track, a ball and pin separator, comprising:
- a. a base plate for attaching to the pinsetter casing next to a lift rod base to a first side;
- b. a movable rigid arm having a distal end, and of a size that when assembled on the pinsetter device rests a distance from the ballwheel device sufficient to prevent bowling pins from entering the ballwheel device;
- and
- c. said base plate having a hinge mounted thereon, and having a spring connected at one end to the base plate, and the spring connected at another end to a proximal end of the rigid arm with the rigid arm connected to the hinge and to the spring in a manner to apply sufficient spring tension to urge the rigid arm into a position blocking entry into the ballwheel device, and sufficient tension to prevent said rigid arm from moving when contacted at the distal end by a pin to thereby prevent the pin from entering the ballwheel device, and insufficient tension to prevent the right arm from moving when contacted by a bowling ball to allow the bowling ball into the ballwheel device.
1 more element
A pinsetter device, comprising:
- a. a pinsetter casing;
- b. a ballwheel device within said casing for lifting a bowling ball to be returned;
- and
- c. a ball and pin separator, said ball and pin separator comprising:
- i. a base plate for attaching to the pinsetter casing next to a lift rod base to a first side,
- ii. a movable rigid arm having a distal end that rests a distance from the ballwheel device sufficient to prevent bowling pins from entering the ballwheel device, and
- iii. said base plate having a hinge mounted thereon, and having a spring connected at one end to a spring rod connected to the base plate at a location spaced from the hinge, and the spring connected at another end to a proximal end portion of the rigid arm, and with the rigid arm connected to the hinge and to the spring in a manner to apply sufficient spring tension to urge the rigid arm into a position blocking entry into the ballwheel device, and sufficient tension to prevent said rigid arm from moving when contacted at the distal end by a pin to thereby prevent the pin from entering the ballwheel device, and insufficient tension to prevent the right arm from moving when contacted by a bowling ball to move and allow the bowling ball into the ballwheel device.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.