Amusement devices: games – Aerial projectile game; game element or accessory therefor... – Target
Patent
1989-12-28
1991-08-13
Coven, Edward M.
Amusement devices: games
Aerial projectile game; game element or accessory therefor...
Target
273 42A, 273 46, A63D 508
Patent
active
050390953
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to improvements to ten pin bowling apparatus and in particular to improved pinsetting apparatus and associated mechanisms.
BACKGROUND ART
Ten pin bowling pinseting machines which are currently available and in use are arranged to be mounted on the kickbacks at the sides of a bowling lane so as to be located above the pindeck and pit area. Such machines which perform the function of elevating, storing and transferring pins prior to setting them on the pindeck physically obstruct the pindeck and pin areas so that access thereto is difficult particularly during resurfacing and other maintenance tasks such as cleaning and repair resulting in high labour costs for maintenance purposes. Furthermore, the known machines cause visual obstruction of the pindeck thereby limiting filming and observation opportunities.
Generally the above machines incorporate arrangements for lifting bowling balls which operate by means of belts or friction drives. This can result in friction damage to the bowling balls as well as high maintenance due to ball spins caused by lane conditioner, undersize bowling balls or poor adjustments. Some of the known machines are also provided with rolling pit carpets which use roller drives, however, such carpets suffer from extensive and rapid wear caused by misalignment so that the entire carpet assembly is required to be removed from the pit for cleaning, repair or replacement.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
The present invention aims to overcome or alleviate one or more of the above disadvantages by providing improved apparatus for ten pin bowling which provides clear physical and visual access to the pindeck and pin areas, and which thereby reduce cost of maintenance. The present invention also aims to provide in a further aspect, apparatus which incorporates a pit carpet assembly which is subject to reduced wear and which may be removed and replaced rapidly and efficiently. The present invention also aims in a further aspect to provide apparatus which incorporates efficient means for the lifting and returning of bowling balls which reduces the risk of damage thereto. Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent hereunder.
With the above and other object in view, the present invention provides ten pin bowling apparatus including pin setting apparatus comprising pin engaging means for placing pins on a pin deck and removing standing pins therefrom, and means for moving said pin engaging means from a first attitude spaced from said pin deck wherein said pin engaging means may engage pins displaced from said pin deck and a second attitude wherein said pin engaging means is disposed over said pin deck for placing said pins thereon or removing pins therefrom.
Preferably the pin engaging means includes a plurality of pivotal link members which carry actuable pin gripping jaws and which when moved over the pin deck are aligned with pins on the pin deck or required positions of the pins. Suitably the pivotal link members are in the form of interconnected scissor type links and the pin jaws are pivotally mounted on supports attached to the links and are actuable for movement towards each other to grip the pins and away from each other to release the pins.
Preferably the pin setting apparatus includes an upstanding support at the rear of the pin deck and gantry means projecting from the support and over the pin deck to guide movement of the pin engaging means. Suitably the means for moving the pin engaging means comprises drive means which preferably includes an expandable and retractable scissor linkage for moving the pin engaging means along the gantry.
The gantry is preferably mounted for vertical movement along the support for lowering and raising the pin engaging means suitably by means of a further scissor linkage.
Pins which are displaced from the pin deck are directed by a endless pit carpet assembly onto an elevator for placement into respective cups on a pin support with the cups arranged to be aligned with respective jaws of the pi
REFERENCES:
patent: Re27416 (1972-07-01), Walsh
patent: 2338708 (1945-11-01), Bates
patent: 2550919 (1951-05-01), Frye
patent: 2920891 (1960-01-01), Sherman
patent: 3333849 (1967-08-01), Schmid
Coven Edward M.
Pierce William M.
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