US2627408A - Bowling pin setter - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 3,. 1953 B, B, BERANEK 2,627,408

BOWLING PIN SETTER Filed sept. 29. 1949 :s sheets-sheet 2 /7 /INVENTOR BOWLING PIN SETTER Filed Sept. 29. 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 fg4 3/ .l 38\ p f @m J 7 9 .Z7 3/ l l" Z5 30 l 32 w j W u W 25 Z/ 28 /3 INVENToR.

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.Fg/fg. ./0 BWM @MM Patented Feb. 3, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BOWLING PIN SETTER Byron B. Beranek, Elcho, Wis.

Application September 29, 1949, Serial No. 118,571

This invention relates to pin setting apparatus for bowling games and particularly to indoor bowling apparatus adaptable to shuliieboard tables and the like.

An object of the invention is to convert shuilleboard tables to indoor bowling.

Another object is to provide a pin setting device which is easily operated and will stand up under hard usage.

Another object is to prevent the dropping of the pins from the rack when the device is not in the resetting position and to protect the playing surface of the table.

Another object is to lock the rack when in the resetting position against closing on the pins.

Another object is to provide a pin rack which may be elevated out of the way of play of other games.

Another object is to provide for resetting o the device automatically for reloading.

These and other objects and advantages wiil be more fully set forth in the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

1n the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the pin setter on the end of a shufeboard table in playing position and showing in dotted lines the resetting position for unloading and the position of the supporting arms in the elevated position.

Fig. 2 is an end view of the shufeboard table with the rack in the elevated position;

Fig. 3 is a detailed view in side elevation of an alternative supporting spring;

Fig. 4 is a plan View of the spring shown in Fig. 3

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the rack in the elevated position and showing details of construction of the supporting arms;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the end of a shuflieboard showing the positions of the pins;

Fig. 7' is a side elevation of the rack with portions thereoi broken away and sectioned to show a pin as carried by the rack;

Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view of the rack;

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic sectional showing oi the locking pins which secure the rack in open and closed positions; and

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 7 showing the pins as they are reset upon the playing table.

The pin setting device I to which the invention is directed is shown as attached to the indoor shuieboard table 2 which comprises a playing surface or board 3 of considerable length and which is supported by the legs 4 about 20 inches from the oor for playing. The gutter 5 and side walls 6 extend on each side and across the back end of the board 3 to receive the game pieces or bowling pins 1 in playing.

The pin setting device comprises the rack 8 2 Claims. (Cl. 273-42) adapted to carry a set of pins 1, as will be described, and the pairs of arms 9 which are pivotally secured to the plates Iil at one end :and to the sides of rack 8 at their corresponding opposite ends.

Each plate I0 may be secured to the bottom of the gutter 5 and side walls 6 or, as shown, may be secured to the outer sides of walls 5 so that arms 9 dispose rack 8 at the end oi board V3 for setting of the pins, as will be more fully described.

Each pair of arms 9 are disposed in parallel to maintain rack 8 horizontal at all times and provide for pivotal movement of the rack and lifting of the saine above board 3.

The frame II extending upwardly on each side of and over table 2 is provided with the latch I2 which is engageable with the cross member I 3 carried by opposite corresponding arms Si to secure rack 8 with arms 9 in vertical position above the table, as shown in Fig. 5. In this position rack 8 with pins 'I is disposed out of the way for playing other games on table 2.

The coil springs I4 connected to frame I I and opposite arms 9 normally support rack 8 about 18 inches above board 3 in which position the rack is readily accessible and is easily reloaded with pins 'I during the bowling game.

Various other spring means may be employed as the helical spring I5 shown in Figs. 3 and 4, which is mounted on the pin I6 securing arm S to plate Il) and is secured at opposite ends to the arm and plate to bias the arm upwardly and support the rack.

The handle il extending on the side of rack 8 corresponding to the rear of table 2 is provided to be grasped for lowering rack 8 to set the pins I in position on board 3.

The rigid frame I8 of rack 8 provided with the spaced crosspieces I9 fits preferably over the end of board 3 and is provided with the felt strips 2@ along the lower edges to prevent scufing the margins of board 3. The rubber cushions 2l secured to the undersides of crosspieces I9 by the screws 22 support rack on the top of board 3 to protect the playing surface from damage.

The cylindrical metal sleeves 23 carried vertically by frame I3 are open at their upper ends to receive the pins 1. The plate 24 disposed across the open lower ends of sleeves 23 is slidably carried between the side members of frame IS and beneath crosspieces I9 by the screws 22 which pass through the parallel slots 25 in the plate. The springs 2B carried by frame I8 are connected to plate 24 normally to secure the plate as shown in Fig. 8 in the position closing the lower open ends of sleeves 23.

The flange 21 along one side of plate 24 is adapted to be grasped with the hand to slide the plate 24 against the biasing of springs 25 to bring the several holes 23 in plate 2li in registry with the corresponding sleeves 23 and to release the pins 1.

The locking pins 29 and S0 slidably carried by the U-shaped' brackets t! are adapted to engage, respectively, either hole 32 or t3 in plate 24 to secure the plate when in the raised position against movement releasing and dropping pins 'l on board 3 and when in the lower position against closing of the plate against the pins 'I' and damaging the same.

The arms 3d carried by shaft 35 are disposed to engage and lift either of pins 29 and 30, respectively, upon rotation of the shaft. The

crank 36- carried. by shaft 35 on the outside of frame I8 is disposed to be engaged by the end s? of one of arms 9 having a cam surface which through crank. 35 and shaft 35 moves arms 3ft in one direction to lift pin 2S! and allow the lowering of pin Bil when rack il is in the lower resetting position on board 3. The spring 3S secured to crank 35 biases crank 35 in the opposite direction to lift pin @il and allow the lowering of pin 29.

The springs 39 disposed between the ends oi brackets ` 2H bias pins 29 and 32 downwardly against the face of plate 2f: or into the respective holes 32 and.

Hole 32 is disposedV to receive pin 23 when plate 24 isV in the position to receive pins l, as shown in Fig. 8, and the pin prevents moving plate 24 except, as described, when the rack is lowered on board 3 so that, for example, pins l cannot be inadvertently released from the elevated position and damage the board.

Hole 33 is disposed to receive pin 3d when rack 8 is lowered for resetting and plate 2li is moved as with flange 2, as described, to drop the pins onboard 3. Pin 3d having dropped into hole 33 secures plate 2d against springs 25 until, as described, rack 8 is again raised and pin is lifted and pin 2S lowered against plate 2t.

Springs 25 then automatically return plate 24 to position for reloading of the rack.

Pins 25 andY 30 provide positive locking against improper operation of the device.

The device may be adapted to playing of various types and is easy to operate.

Various embodiments of the invention may be employed within the scope of the accompanying claims.

I claim:

1. 1n a device of4 the class described, a table having an alleyway for the support of one or more.I pins for bowling, a rack having a number of openings for individually receiving the pins, a closure plate slidably carried by said rack disposed normally in a rst position to close the lower ends or" said rack openings and to support the pins therein and having a number of openings registering with said rack openings in a second position to allow the pins to drop therefrom onto said alleyway, nrst and second looking bolts carried byl said rack and adapted to engage and secure said plate respectively in said rst and second positions relative to said rack openings, parallel arms pivotally connected at corresponding opposite ends thereof to said table and said rack for securing said rack horizontally and providing for movement between lower and upper positions respectively on said table in the tables alleyway and above said table over the alleyway, and a pivotal mechanism carried by said rack and operatively engageable with said locking bolts and one of said arms so as to be actuated by movement of said arm relative to said rack, said mechanism being disposed to move said rst bolt to release said plate from said first position upon lowering of said rack whereby said plate is movable to said second position to release said pins, said mechanism further being simultaneously disposed to release said second bolt to allow engagement thereof with said plate upon movement of the latter to said sec- 0nd position and preclude reclosing of said openings while said rack is lowered on the table.

2. In a device of the class described, a table having' an alleyway for the support of one or more pins for bowling, a rack having a number of openings for individually receiving the pins, a closure plate slidably carried by said rack disposed normally in a rst position to close the lower ends of said rack openings and to support the pins therein and having a number of openings registering with said rack openings in a second position to allow the pins to drop therefrom, onto said alleyway, first and second locking bolts carried by said rack and adapted to engage and secure said plate respectively in said first and second positions relative to said rack openings, parallel arms pivotally connected at corresponding opposite ends thereof to said table and said rack for securing said rack horizontally and providing for movement between lower and upper positions respectively on said table in the alleyway and above said table over the alleyway, a pivotal mechanism carried by said rack and operatively engageable with said locking bolts and one of said arms so as to be actuated by movement of said arm relative to said rack, said mechanism being disposed to move said iirst bolt to release said plate from said first position upon lowering of said rack whereby said plate is movable to said second position to release said pins, said mechanism further being simultaneously disposed to release said second bolt to allow engagement thereof with said plate upon movement of` the latter to said second position and preclude reclosing oi said openings while said rack is lowered on the table, and spring means normally biasing said plate to said second position, whereby thev rack openings are normally closed and said plate is secured against release of the pins except in the lower position of said rack.

BYRON B. BERANEE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITEDSTATES PATENTS Number Name Date 935,353 Coiiin Aug. 10, 1909 1,144,091 Anderson June 22, 1915 1,297,951 Wheeler Mar. 18, 1919 1,564,054 Fisher Dec. 1, 1925 1,852,870 Williams Apr. 5, 1932 1,896,384 White et al Feb. 7, 1933 2,017,143 Bentz Oct. 15, 1935 2,221,697 Ball Nov. 12, 1940 2,229,852 Kaufman Jan. 28, 1941

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