Bowling game

Details Bowling game Bowling game

1998-08-05

2001-04-10

Pierce, William M. (Department: 3711)

Games using tangible projectile

Bowling

Handling of pin or pin representation

C473S081000, C473S116000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06213886

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to small scale replica bowling game.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The game of bowling a is a very popular pastime in both its 10 pin and 5 pin forms. However, because of the physical requirements of bowling lanes, it may not be played in most homes. Consequently, there have been many bowling games developed which are meant to simulate bowling and which are down-sized so that they may be enjoyed at home or in other smaller indoor spaces.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,374,220 issued to Burtchett, there is described a portable bowling alley with a ball return mechanism. The disadvantage to this portable game is that there is no way of resetting or clearing the pins after they have been knocked down, other than walking from one end of the game to the other and resetting or clearing each pin by hand.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for a replica small scale bowling game which realistically simulates the game of bowling, permits the player to reset or clear the pins from the player end of the game and has a ball return mechanism.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In general terms, the invention comprises a small scale replica bowling game having a player end and a pin end, said game comprising;
(a) a flat lane surface abutted by a ball gutter on either side;
(b) an overhead pin housing disposed above the pin end of the lane;
(c) at least 5 bowling pins, each pin having a head and a base and each pin moveable between a lowered set position on the lane surface and a raised position above the lane surface; and
(d) reset means associated with each pin wherein the reset means is operable by the player at the player end to raise and lower each pin.
The pin reset means may comprise a reset member moveable between a first and second position, a force transmittal means for communicating movement of the reset member to the pin such that when the reset member is in the first position, the pin is in the lowered position and when the reset member is in the second position, the pin is in the raised position.
In one embodiment drawn and described herein, the reset member is an elongate rod slidably engaging the underside of the lane surface and the force transmittal means is a cable attached to one end of the rod and also attached to the pin head. In an alternative embodiment, a lever is interposed between the rod and the cable to provide a mechanical advantage to the user.
The bowling game may further comprise ball return means for returning a game ball to the player end of the game. In the embodiment drawn and described herein, the ball return means is gravity-operated and comprises a ball collection ramp, a return tube and a return outlet, arranged such that the game ball is gathered by the ramp into the return tube and comes to rest in the return outlet at the player end of the game.


REFERENCES:
patent: 700614 (1902-05-01), Butts
patent: 784360 (1905-03-01), Stevens
patent: 835554 (1906-11-01), Powers
patent: 2018833 (1935-10-01), Cahill
patent: 3586325 (1971-06-01), Lorber
patent: 3756598 (1973-09-01), Maeda
patent: 5167412 (1992-12-01), Rochefort
patent: 5374220 (1994-12-01), Burtchett
patent: 5575718 (1996-11-01), Simmons

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