US2876011A - Method of reinforcing and finishing a bowling pin - Google Patents

Description

March 3, 1959 w. L. HUNT 2,376,011

METHOD OF REINFORCING AND FINISHING A BOWLING PIN Filed Dec. 11, 1956 IN VENTOR hfimuw Z. Hl/JVI' BY 4M ATTORNEYS United States Patent METHOD OF REINFORCING AND FINISHING A BOWLING PIN Application December 11, 1956, Serial No. 627,656 1 Claim. (Cl. 273-82) The present invention relates to bowling pins, and more particularly to the method of forming same having means therein to prevent excessive deformation of the pin in the ball contact zone.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a method of forming a bowling pin in which the effective life of the pin is materially increased by reducing the incident of damage to the pin.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method of forming a bowling pin wherein pins damaged beyond use in normal bowling may be restored to full usefulness thereby.

A further object of the invention is to provide a method and means for refurbishing bowling pins whereby the pin meets all standards established for new bowling pins.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method of manufacturing and refurbishing bowling pins which is inexpensive, easy to perform, and which will produce a bowling pin having an effective life greater than a new bowling pin manufactured in a conventional manner.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the following specification when considered in the light of the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a bowling pin incorporating the invention shown partially broken away for clarity of illustration.

Figure 2 is a grossly enlarged vertical cross section of a fragment of the invention taken on the line 2-2- of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a side elevation ofthe bowling pin damaged in normal play.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of a bowling pin with the first step of the invention carried out thereon.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of a bowling pin with the second step of the invention carried out thereon.

Figure 6 is a side elevation of a bowling, pin with the third step of the invention carried out thereon.

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several figures, the reference numeral 10 indicates generally a bowling pin constructed in accordancewith the invention.

The bowling pin 10 comprises a maple wood body 11, a base 12, a neck portion 13, and a head 14. The conformation of the bowling pin 10 is conventional and is controlled by bowling organizations.

In normal use the wooden body 11 of the bowling pin 10 is struck by the bowling ball (not shown) in the fattest area of the body 11 and sustains damage as indicated at 15 to the wooden body 11. After the bowling body 11 has sustained a considerable amount of damage Patented Mar. 3, 1959 ice 15, the conformation thereof no longer meets league standards and the pin can no longer be used in league games. A bowling pin 11 sustaining suflicient damage 15 to be substandard in size can then only be used in 5 practice games, and even then the pin is undesirable since the action obtained therewith is below standard.

In carrying out the invention, a pin body 11 having damage 15 thereon, or a new pin body 11 in undamaged condition, is placed in a lathe (not shown) and an annular recessed band 16 is cut therein in the fattest portion of the pin body 11. After the pin body 11 has been recessed at 16, a double layer of twine 17 is wrapped thereon. The twine 17, prior to being wrapped in the recess 16 of the pin 11 is first wet with a liquid plastic material and is wound onto the pin 11 in a wet condition.

The wet twine 17 is permitted to completely harden or dry at room temperatures and under normal conditions with respect to the atmosphere. After the plastic coated twine has hardened, a plastic material 18 having the general consistency of putty is pressed into the groove 16 in contact with the twine 17 to a height above the original contours of the pin 11.

Illustrated in Figure 6 is a pin 11 with the plastic material 18 raised above the normal contours of the pin 11. The plastic material 18 is then permitted to dry at normal temperatures and normal conditions of the atmosphere into a relatively hard impenetrable mass. The bowling pin body 11 is then turned in a lathe until the original contours thereof have been reestablished whereupon the pin 11 is provided with a plastic coat 19 and a paint coat 20 in a conventional manner.

When the pin 11 has the damage 15 thereof extending about and below the groove 16, it should be understood that the plastic mass 18 may be utilized in filling the damaged areas prior to the turning of the pin 11.

The twine 17 provides a combined reinforcement for the pin 11 and a cushion underlying the plastic mass 18 to cushion a portion of the shock occurring when the ball strikes the pin 11.

Having thus described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it should be understood that numerous structural modifications and adaptations may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

The method of reinforcing and finishing a bowling pin which includes the steps of turning an annular groove in the ball contact zone of the pin, wrapping the pin in the turned groove to a height to partially fill the groove with plural layers of twine impregnated with a plastic material in a liquid state, drying the plastic impregnated twine, covering the dry plastic impregnated twine with suflicient plastic substance to fill the remainder of the groove and extend outwardly therebeyond, turning the pin including the plastic substance to standard bowling pin contours, and coating the turned pin and plastic substance with finish materials.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,774,385 Lard Aug. 26, 1930 2,304,585 McMinn Dec. 8, 1942 2,494,351 Montero Ian. 10, 1950 2,535,033 Bergere Dec. 26, 1950

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