Data processing: generic control systems or specific application – Specific application – apparatus or process – Contest or contestant analysis – management – or monitoring
Reexamination Certificate
1998-06-15
2001-05-08
Martin-Wallace, Valencia (Department: 3713)
Data processing: generic control systems or specific application
Specific application, apparatus or process
Contest or contestant analysis, management, or monitoring
C473S070000, C473S071000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06230065
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a bowling score display apparatus to be used for bowling games.
In conventional common bowling alleys, before lanes are provided consoles for detecting the pin state after a bowl and counting the bowling score.
In a bowling alley provided with such a bowling console, because the score is automatically displayed on a CRT or overhead CRT provided in the console, bowlers are not required to enter their own score or other bowlers' score in the score sheet. Therefore, bowlers are allowed to dedicate themselves to the bowling game so that the bowling game progresses smoothly as a whole.
Such automatic bowling scoring equipment has been practiced in many bowling alleys since earlier days, being quite general as equipment for bowling alleys.
However, in such a conventional bowling score display apparatus that processes and displays bowling score, display contents no more than when the score is entered in the score sheet one by one would be presented on the CRT or the like. Accordingly, after a bowl is performed by one bowler, only a numeric value or mark would be displayed in the relevant square in response to a result of pin-state detection, where the display contents in the whole screen would show almost no change. For this reason, in some cases, the gallery in particular could not read any change in the contents of score display without scrutinizing the score display presented on the CRT or the like, so that the gallery could not well understand the correspondence between the contents of score display in the display screen and the actual progress of the bowling game. Although such functions as presenting an applausive display upon occurrence of a strike, spare or other particular event are, of course, generally included, there would still be difficulties in understanding as to which numeric value or mark has been added in which square in the form of score sheet.
An object of the present invention is therefore to provide a bowling score display apparatus which makes it possible to easily understand the correspondence between a change in the contents of score display on the display screen and the progress of the actual bowling game.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a bowling score display apparatus comprising:
a pin detection device for detecting a state of at least one pin in a pin set position after a bowl;
a counter for counting a bowling score from the state of the at lest one pin after the bowl;
a score display for displaying the bowling score,
said score display preliminarily displaying a first graphic image responsive to the state of the pins after the bowl, and
said score display, after preliminarily displaying said graphic image, transforming the graphic image into a displayed element of the displayed bowling score.
With this constitution, a numeric value (e.g., the number of fallen pins or the point at the relevant frame), mark (e.g., a mark of strike, spare, gutter or the like) or other graphic image (e.g., an image such as an animation of applauding a strike or spare) responsive to the state of the pins after a bowl is once preliminarily displayed, and then the preliminary display is transformed or moved so that the numeric value or mark is displayed in the square of the score. As a result, it looks like a numeric value or mark is preliminarily displayed in a region other than the square where the display should be presented and then the display contents are transformed or moved so as to be finally accommodated in the square of the score where the display should be presented. Therefore, it can be easily understood which bowl in which frame and by which bowler the current bowl falls upon.
The numeric value of preliminary display corresponds to the number of fallen pins, and is displayed with a numeral larger in size than the numeric value to be displayed in the square. This makes the number of fallen pins obvious at a glance.
The mark responsive to the state of the pins is a mark which indicates an event such as a strike or a spare and which is displayed in a size larger than that of the mark for score display displayed in the square. This makes it obvious at a glance that an event such as a strike, spare or gutter has occurred.
The score display means displays tracks of display within the display screen during the process of transforming or moving the preliminarily displayed graphic image. This makes it easily understandable that the contents of the preliminary display have entered into a specified square of score display.
Further, in another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a bowling score display apparatus comprising:
a pin detection device for detecting a state of at least one pin in a pin set position after a bowl;
a counter for counting a bowling score from the state of the at least one pin after the bowl;
a score display for displaying the bowling scores of a plurality of bowlers, one of said bowlers being the current bowler, and
said score display displaying the bowling score of the current bowler in a size larger than bowling scores of the other bowlers. With this constitution, it can be easily understood which frame by which bowler the current bowl falls upon.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4951039 (1990-08-01), Schwendeman et al.
patent: 5241379 (1993-08-01), Tsujita
Kasick Julie
Martin-Wallace Valencia
Pillsbury & Winthrop LLP
Telesystems Co., LTD
LandOfFree
Bowling score display apparatus does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Bowling score display apparatus, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Bowling score display apparatus will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2538641