US2469236A - Miniature bowling apparatus - Google Patents

Description

S. L. LONG MINIATURE BOWLING APPARATUS May 3, 1949.

Filed Aug. 17,- 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 3, 1949. s. 1.. LONG MINIATURE BOWLING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 17, 1945 May 3, 1949. s. L. LONG 2,469,236

MINIATURE BOWLING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 17, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 5' I [71 2 4 11/01 51091: yZ Lin 73g 77/3: %4//7ry Patented May 3, 1949 U N [T ED STATES FATE-N CE 2,469,236 lVIININIT-URE BOWLING APPARATUS Sidney L...Lcng, Minneapolis, Minn. Application-August 17, 1945-Sei-ial No.611,192'

'7 Claims.

My present invention relatestto improvements in: miniature bowling apparatus and, .moretpar-z ticularly, to a foldablewminiature'ioowling apparatus .that can be -setup and :a game played in=a room or out offldoors. 1

This bowling apparatus includes pivoted pins that arenupset by-throwing or rolling a ball.

The objects .of this invention :are: firstto provide. means .for. 'stoppinglithe' vball after :it

strikes one or more of the 'pins, and in returning-the ball to the thrower; second, in provide ing a nove'l meanszfor returning the pins to.upright positionsg-andthird, in providing common means .forv locking the bowling apparatus in either its-set up or folded positions.

These and :other objects of the invention will be apparent fromzthe following-description,-.ref+ erence being had to the drawings-.:

To the above endygenerally stated, the in.- vention consistsfiof' the'nove'l divic'es'randcombinationofdevices hereinafter-described and defined in theclaims;

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the invention, like characters indicate-like parts throughout the severalviews.

Referring tothe drawings: '1

Fig. 1 is a side-elevationoi the bowlingapparatus;

Fig.-=2 is a view-in section taken on theline 2-4 of Fig. 4,;

Fig. 3 is a view partly in rear .elevation and partly in sectiontaken on-the line -3--3-of Fig.1;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of'the bowling apparatus;

Fig. 5 is a view partly in front elevation and partly in section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. .6 is .a .rearelevation of the bowlingaapparatus folded;

Fig. "I. is a view in section takenonthe line 1-1 of Fig-6;

Fig. 8 isia detail view with .someparts sectioned on the line 8 8 of Fig. '7;

Fig-9 is an elevation of a ball. and a devicefor throwing thesame; and

Fig. 10 is a plan .view of the .parts shown .in Fig. 9 with a portion of thehandlbroken away and sectioned.

The numeral ll indicates a grid .comprisinga rectangular frame l2 and a plurality of upright spindles 13. The spindles l3 are laterallynspaced apart to leave pin passageways l lLtherebetween.

The-sidelmembers o'f-theframe [2 are extended below said frame to afford a pair of legs l5.

A'platform.-.l.6..is supported on side members I! between which the grid ll extends. These side members all are: pivoted -.at 1-8: to the side A :plurality members: of ethe frame-H; The platform l6.is upwardly inclinediandzthelower or outer ends of the side members; 11 ere-lbeveled atv [9 ';to bring-ut'he front edgei of' saidx platform "close to the floor or grounds The grid. lies in..a plane perpendicular 1 to1=the nplatiormi' 1'6 and therefore is a iorwardlyinclined position.

The grid H i and the platform .1 6 arerel-easably held against :relativea pivotal movement by; latch bars 20 2 These: latch: bars?!) .are I intermediately pivotedsat .Zlitoithe.s'deemembersof the frame =l2and extend into transverse no'tches 22 in the .platformside:.membersz 1 I. H'Ihe upper "end: portions ofthe 'latchwbars 2 0T are: turned outwardly totafiordwfinger-piec'es: 23. a

The platform" l-G is'provided: with a pair of outwardlyxdiverging -side boards: 24. The side boards 24'. are: detacha'blyasecured "to the frame 1 2.- by separable fasteners-2'5. These side boards 24 are also deta'chably. secured to the platform side members rflbyllegsa'lii on -said side-boards. These :1egs 26 extend into grooves 21 in the side m'embernll! and are held: :thereinby keeper plates: 2-8. I ofxzbowlingzpins '29 are pivotally mountedon a horizontal. vrod: that extends parallel to the grid II. The end portions of the rod. 30=are securedcrinz :alignedzholes .in the. platform side. membersi 1 randiblocksf3 l on the inner faces of-saidmembers; Sleeves -32: on the rod 3il-hold the pins 29i spa'ced from the frame l2 and: from; each other; .There is a passageway 14 for each pin 29vand the: pins':29fiare free to swing through: the passageways "ii 4. Normally, theipins 2E engageitheupper e'dgesof the platform 16 as a stop, and are held therebyin'forwardly inclinedslpositionsrthataarer parallel to the plane of :theagrid l Wherrthezpinsrll) are in upright positions, they :extend'. obliquely through the passageways l-l' and their upperlportions" are back oi the grid Hp When the .pins :2'9Lare struck by -a ball,..as will presently appeanrtheyr-swing rearwardpnthe rod-'3 0'--through theipassagewayi and into horizontal positions sinziwhic'hetheyl rest :on the transversemember Ofua, abail-llike" rod 3.1 Dhe arms of the. rod- 33 1-ie-.clos'ei;to: the .inner'. faces of .the side :members-ot the frame l2 :andutheir free 'end portions are turnedzoutwardly to afford pivots; 34 thata-extend-ri-nto. aligned holes:.-.34 in the :platiormrside" membersslil; The a'rms of the rod' extend: rover the .two outermost spacing sleeves": 3L 3 The'zrod 33 isrhel'd' in; substantially a horizontal position by a pain:oircabless35lthatextend through 3 eyes 36 on the upper end portions of the side members of the frame l2. Rings 31 attached to the upper end portions of the cable 35 engage the eyes 36 as stops.

By pulling on one of the rings 31, the rod 33 may be lifted and carries the pins 29 resting thereon into upright positions beyond dead center, and from these positions they will swing forwardly by the forceof gravity and bepositioned against the upper edge portion of the platform It.

When the ring 37, by which the rod 33 has been lifted, is released, said rod will drop by the action of gravity and be stopped by the cables 35 in its horizontal position.

For the sake of convenience, the rod 33 may be lifted to reset the pins by a long cable 38 attached at one of its ends to one of the rings 37. The action end of the cable 38 is attached to a spool 39 on which it may be wound when not in use. This remote control of the rod 33 in resetting the pins 29 makes it unnecessary for the players to walk to the apparatus to reset the pins 29. The spool 39 is removably held on the bent upper end portion of the rod 40 stuck in the ground close to the player.

The bowling apparatus also includes a relatively large hollow rubber ball 4| and a novel device 42 for throwing the ball. This device 42 includes a handle 43 having attached thereto four light spring fingers 44 by which the ball 4| is releasably held. In throwing the ball 4|, the device 42 is held as positioned in Fig. 9 and when swung forwardly, gives said ball sufficient momentum to release itself from the spring fingers 44.

The use of the throwing device 42 in connection With the bowling apparatus, is highly important for the reason that the ball 4| is thrown close to the ground and either strikes the pins 29 directly or strikes the floor or ground, rolls up the platform i6 and strikes said pins. The ball 4| is of such size that it will not pass through one of the pin passageways l4 and, when thrown or rolled, will strike the grid roll down the platform I6 and be returned to the thrower. The side boards 24 prevent the ball 4|, after striking the grid II, from being deflected laterally from the platform l6.

The bowling apparatus may be folded by turning the latch bars 20 into inoperative position and in moving the grid II and platform It pivotally into a common plane. The grid H and platform It are held in folded relation by turning the latch bars 20 into grooves 45 in the inner faces of the platform side member II. It will thus be seen that the latch bars 20 serve a double purpose, to wit: they look the grid H and platform It in both operative and inoperative positions. To complete the folding of the apparatus, the pins 29 are placed against the rod 33 and held there by the rod 40. One end of the rod 4&3 is inserted, at its straight end, into a hole 46 in one of the platform side members I! and its head or bent end is placed in a recess 41 in the other of said side members and held there by a turn-button 48. Before the grid H and the platform l6 are folded, the side boards 24 are removed therefrom, placed the one upon the other on the under side of said platform and secured thereto by an L-screw 49. This screw 49 has threaded engagement with the platform I6, extends through aligned slots 50 in the side boards 24 and its head is turned into overlapping engagement with the uppermost side board 24. The remote control cable 38 is wound on the spool Y39 and said spool placed on a spindle secured 1. In an apparatus of the class described, a

plurality of upright pins pivotally mounted to be upset rearwardly when struck by a ball, and a ball-stopping grid back of the upright pins and through which grid the pins extend when upset.

2. In an apparatus of the class described, a

plurality of upright pins pivotally mounted to be upset rearwardly when struck by a ball, a ballstopping grid back of 'the upright pins and through which grid the pins extend when upset, and means for returning the upset pins through the grid to normal positions.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, a plurality of forwardly inclined upright pins pivotally mounted to be upset rearwardly when struck by a ball, a forwardly inclined ballstopping grid back of the upright pins and through which grid, a pivoted bail-like member on the transverse portion of which the pins rest when upset, and means for swinging said member to lift the pins beyond dead centers, whereby the force of gravity will return the pins through the grid to their forwardly inclined positions.

4. In an apparatus of the class described, a plurality of upright pins pivotally mounted to be upset rearwardly when struck by a ball, a ball-stopping grid back of the upright pins and through which grid the pins extend when upset, and an inclined platform leading to the pins.

5. In an apparatus of the class described, a plurality of upright pins pivotally mounted to be upset rearwardly when struck by a ball, a ballstopping grid back of the upright pins and through which grid the pins extend when upset, an inclined platform leading to the pins, and having ball-intercepting side members.

6. In an apparatus of the class described, a ball-stopping grid, an inclined platform pivotally attached to said grid, a plurality of upright pins pivotally mounted on the platform forwardly of the grid to be upset rearwardly through the grid when struck by a ball, means for returning the upset pins through the grid to normal positions, and a latch for holding the grid and the platform substantially perpedicular to each other or folded into substantially the same plane.

7. In an apparatus of the class described, a platform having side members, a ball-stopping grid having supporting legs and extending transversely between said members, said platform and grid being pivotally connected, a plurality of pins pivotally mounted on the platform to be upset rearwardly through the grid when struck by a ball, means for returning the upset pins through the grid to normal positions, and a pair of latches on the grid for interlocking engagement with the side members of the platform at different points to hold the platform and the grid either substantially perpendicular, the one to the other, or substantially in the same plane.

SIDNEY L. LONG,

(References on following page) REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 Number Name Date 946,709 Staebler J an. 18, 1910 1,214,252 Yamamoto J an. 30,1917 1,357,778 Jacobs Nov. 2, 1920 10 Number

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