US3237945A

US3237945A - Bowling pin

Info

Publication number: US3237945A
Application number: US79399A
Authority: US
Inventors: Isenberg Sampson; Albert E Shaw; Robert J Moon
Original assignee: Brunswick Corp
Current assignee: Brunswick Corp
Priority date: 1960-12-29
Filing date: 1960-12-29
Publication date: 1966-03-01
Anticipated expiration: 1983-03-01

Description

United States Patent O 3,237,945 BWMNG PIN Sampson Isenberg, Albert E. Shaw, and Robert E. Moon, Chicago, lill., assignors to Brunswick Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 29, 1960, Ser. No. 79,399 22 Claims. (Cl. 273-82) This invention relates to bowling pins, and more particularly to a bowling pin having magnetic properties capable of detection by pin detecting `apparatus for distinguishing between standing pins and fallen pins to actuate an indicating means for apprising bowlers or spectators of the results of a ball thrown in a bowling game. The magnetic properties are provided without materially altering the pin quality or pin action and without deviating materially from commonly accepted pin standards.

It is a general object of the invention to provide a new and improved pin of the type described.

ln the past, pin detection apparatus has been provided in the form of pin detecting means associated with a pinsetter deck for cooperation with the heads of standing pins and also in the form of pin detecting means associated with the alley or bed on which the pins stand. ln the case of pin detecting means associated with pinsetters for cooperation with the heads of standing pins, there is the disadvantage that pin detection usually depends upon a lowering of a pinsetter deck into proximity with the heads of standing pins in order to determine the presence or absence of the pins. This mode of operation requires that the pinsetter deck be lowered after each ball is rolled if pins are to be detected after each ball, while the lowering of the deck after the second ball may not be necessary to the pinsetting function. Thus, the lowering of the deck after the second ball is a time consuming and wearing operation.

In the case of pin detecting means associated with the alley or the bed on which the pins stand, magnetically or mechanically operated switches have usually been provided for `actuation by the bases of the pins to indicate the presence or absence of pins. In the case of magnetically operated switches, this has usually involved the use of pins which include heavy metallic slugs of ferromagnetic material which materially alter the weight of the pins, the weight distribution and the pin action. In the case of mechanically operated switches, in order to be appropriately sensitive, such switches have been necessarily somewhat fragile in construction and difficult to maintain in an operative condition providing a high degree of accuracy.

According to the present invention, a pin is provided which eliminates the necessity of detecting pins by means associated with the pinsetter deck and enables the use of pin detection means in or under the alley or bed on which the pins stand. At the same time, the need for magnetically or mechanically operated switches is obviated and the pin construction does not depart materially from standards usually acceptable to the American Bowling Congress relating to materials, weight and pin action. In a preferred form, the pin base is provided with a predetermined relatively minute quantity of a pararnagnetic material capable of altering a state of balance in an electrical detection apparatus to enable the apparatus to distinguish between a standing pin and a fallen pin or the absence of a pin.

The term paramagnetic is used herein to describe a material having a magnetic permeability greater than unity, as opposed to diamagnetic, and as distinguished from ferromagnetic, that is, magnetic in a high degree, like iron, nickel and cobalt. Whereas iron may have a Patented Mar.. l, i966 JCC Permeability of 6,000 to 8,000, nickel may have a permeability of 400 to 1000 and cobalt may have a permeability on the order of 170, the materials contemplated in the present invention may have a permeability on the order of 5 to 20. The preferred materials are rionmetallic in the common sense of the word, `as well as paramagnetic, and thus do not involve an objectionable use of metal in pins as contemplated in the past for some pin detection apparatuses either for the purpose of providing magnetic slugs or for the purpose of providing circuit making portions in the pins.

Minute quantities of paramagnetic material are sufficient and in a preferred form of the invention, less than one ounce of the material has provided excellent results. The material is preferably utilized in the form of minute particles evenly distributed concentrically about the axis of the pin in the base portion of the pin adjacent the lower end thereof. The material may be conveniently provided in the pin in the form of particles encapsulated in a plastic ring embedded in the pin base. The plastic, with particles of the paramagnetic material therein, may be molded in ring form or in strip form cut to proper length and rolled into ring form. The plastic ring may be retained in the pin base in any suitable manner, as by a tight lit, by adhesive means or by retention by a wear and impact resistant plastic ring, such as nylon, frequently provided nowadays at the base of wooden pins or plastic coated wooden pins. I

Fcrrite is particularly suitable in the present invention, and excellent results have been obtained with magnetite, which has the formula FeOFe2O3, and magneto-ferrites, including PbG-BaOBFeZOS and 2PbOSrO5Fe2O3- The latter compounds are of the magnetoferrite type represented by the general formula XMO-YFe2O3, where M represents the alkali earth group and/ or lead, and X and Y may be any numbers. Chemically, these are all salts.

Several plastic vehicles are suitable for carrying the magnetic material, such as vinyl, rubber, .silicone rubber and epoxy. An epoxy modified with vinyl has given excellent results as it allows a concentration of ferrite greater than to 90% and still retains satisfactory ilexibility, strength and ruggedness needed for the insert. ln a preferred form, the ring insert has a thickness of about 332", a height of about 5%, and is disposed approximately 1/. above the bottom surface of the pin. A ring of these dimensions weighs approximately only one ounce and may contain approximately 85% ferrite by weight and 15% epoxy resin. lt should be understood that while certain values are given for permeability and quantity of material as providing satisfactory results, these may be varied while still producing the necessary functions. For example, a material of greater permeability may be utilized in lesser quantity or a material of lesser permeability may be utilized in greater quantity.

With a pin construction of the type described, utilizing a concentric ring of plastic carrying the magnetic material, the magnetic properties are such that a pin detection means in or under the alley is capable of distinguishing a lirst condition in which a pin is standing and a second in which the pin is fallen or completely removed. Pin detection means, such as that disclosed in our copending application Serial No. 23,092, tiled April 18, 1960, now Patent No. 3,093,375, are capable of detecting standing pins of the type described at each of the pin spots whether the pins are standing on spot or off spot in predetermined areas immediately surrounding the pin spots. When a pin is standing, the entire plastic ring carrying the paramagnetic material is equally spaced from the surface of the alley and provides a path for magnetic flux. On the other hand, when the pin is completely removed, the absence of the pararnagnetie material s detectable, or when the pin has fallen the portion of paramagnetic material immediately adjacent the alley is insufficient to indicate the presence of a standing pin.

Other objects and advantages will become readily apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a ten pin embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the axis of the pin illustrated in FIG. 1 along line 2-2;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken at about the line 3 3 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken at about the line 4 4 of FIG. 3.

While an illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawings and will be described in detail herein, the invention is capable of embodiment in many different forms, and it should be understood that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification f the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiment or materials disclosed. The scope of the invention will be pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings in more detail, these illustrate a ten pin comprised of an elongate main body including a head portion 16, a neck portion 17, an enlarged belly portion 18, and a base portion 19. Pins of this type are usually made of wood, and painted or frequently covered with a coating of plastic, though the entire pin body may be of plastic if desired. The base 19 includes a reduced lower end portion 22 and a concentric annular groove 23. A wear and impact resistant plastic ring 24, of material such as nylon, includes an upstanding locking ring as at 25 inserted in the groove 23, a bottom surface 26 substantially flush with the bottom surface of the reduced portion 22, and a side surface 27 fiush with the side surface of the base portion of the pin. The ring 24 may be retained in place on the pin by adhesive means or by interlock according to the principles set forth in the Berry et al. application Serial No. 715,110, filed February 13, 1958, now Patent No. 2,964,319, assigned to the assignee of this application.

While the preferred form of the invention utilizes a ring as illustrated at 24, it should be understood that this could be varied or that the ring may be omitted entirely, if desired.

In the preferred form illustrated, the ring 24 is provided with an internal annular, upwardly facing shoulder as at 30 for supporting a ring 35 of dielectric plastic material carrying paramagnetic material as described hereinabove. The ring is preferably molded originally in strip form, and rolled into ring form with the ends meeting as at 36. It may be adhesively secured to the ring 24 as at 37. The ring 35 is surrounded on all four sides, on two sides by the nylon ring 24 and on two sides by the wood of the pin body, and is thus protected from damage and destruction, so that there is no loss of the detectable material. In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the ring 1s 3;@2" thick and Ss" high, and is positioned 1A above the bottom surface of the pin.

The ring 3S illustrated is preferably comprised of an epoxy modified with vinyl and contains microscopic particles of ferrite encapsulated therein. The ring weighs less than one ounce and contains 84% ferrite by weight. The ring weighs so little as compared to the weight of the pin that the over-all physical properties of the pin are substantially unaffected. Weight distribution and pin action are not altered. The ring is electrically nonconductive, and nonmetallic in the common sense of the word, but it possesses magnetic properties capable of detection by virtue of the paramagnetic area provided by the ferrite. While a preferred form of plastic ring is illustrated, this may be varied. Generally, a relatively thin and tall ring provides a greater differentation in signals from standing pins and fallen pins than a relatively thick and short ring. In the preferred form illustrated, the ring is raised from the bottom of the pin and completely surrounded so that in use there will be no loss of detectable material which would alter the detectable properties of the pin. The spacing of the magnetic material from the bottom surface of the pin is not objectionable as in the case where the pin is intended to be magnetically attractive to a magnet so that one holds the other.

We claim:

1. A bowling pin, comprising, an elongate main body including a base portion having a flattened lower end for supporting the pin in standing position, and a quantity of a pararnagnetic nonmetal in said body adjacent one end thereof and having magnetic properties capable of detection by pin detecting apparatus.

2. A Ibowling pin as defined in claim 1, wherein said paramagnetic material has a magnetic permeability of approximately 10.

3. A bowling pin as defined in claim 1 wherein said paramagnetic material weighs approximately one ounce.

4. A bowling pin as defined in claim 1, wherein said paramagnetic material is evenly distributed concentrically around the axis of the pin.

5. A bowling pin as defined in claim 1, wherein said paramagnetic material is a ferrite.

6. A bowling pin as defined in claim 1, wherein said paramagnetic material is magnetite.

7. A bowling pin, comprising, an electrically nonconductive main body including a base portion having a flattened lower end for supporting the pin in standing position, and a minute quantity of a paramagnetic nonmetal in the base portion adjacent the lower end and having magnetic properties capable of detection by pin detecting apparatus, said paramagnetic material having a magnetic permeability of approximately 8 to l0.

8. A bowling pin, comprising, an electrically nonconductive main body .including a base portion having a flattened lower end for supporting the pin in standing position, and .approximately one ounce of a paramagnetic salt in the base portion adjacent the lower end and having magnetic properties capable of detection by pin detecting apparatus.

9. A bowling pin as defined in claim 8, wherein said paramagnetic material has a magnetic permeability of approximately 10.

10. A bowling pin as defined in claim 9 wherein the paramagnetic material comprises minute particles arranged in a concentric ring around the axis of the pin.

11. A bowling pin as defined in claim 10 wherein the paramagnetic material is a ferrite.

12. A bowling pin, comprising, a main body including a base portion having a flattened lower end for supporting the pin in standing position, and a predetermined quantity of minute particles of ferrite disposed concentrically around the pin axis in the base portion adjacent the lower end for detection by a pin sensing apparatus.

13. A bowling pin as defined in claim 12, wherein the ferrite is magnetite.

14. A bowling pin as defined in claim 12, wherein the ferrite is a magneto-ferrite.

15. A bowling pin as defined in claim 14, wherein the magneto-ferrite has the general formula XMO-YFe2O3, where M is selected from the class consisting of the alkali earth group and lead, and X and Y may be any positive numbers.

16. A bowling pin as defined in claim 15, wherein the lmagneto-ferrite is PbO-BaO-3Fe203.

17. A bowling pin as defined in claim 15 wherein the magneto-ferrite is 2PbO -SrO 5Fe203.

18. A bowling pin, comprising, an elongate electrically nonconductive main body including a base portion having a fiattened lower end for supporting the pin in standing position, a ring of plastic material carried by the base portion adjacent the lower end thereof, and

minute particles of a paramagnetic salt embedded in the ring providing a pararnagnetic area for detection by a pin sensing apparatus when the pin is standing.

19. A bowling pin, comprising, an elongate electri- Ically nonconductive body including a base portion having a ilat lower end for supporting the pin in standing position on an alley, a dielectric ring of plastic material embedded in the base portion and surrounded at least at the top, radially inner and radially outer sides thereof by the body material for protection against wear and impact and approximately one ounce of minute particles of ferrite encapsulated in the plastic ring providing a paramagnetic area for detection by a pin sensing apparatus.

20. A bowling pin, comprising, an elongate main body of electrically nonconductive material including a base having a reduced lower portion terminating in a flat lower end, a wear and impact resistant annula-r plastic insert around said reduced lower portion including a bottom sur-face substantially flush with said flat lower end and a side surface ush with the side surface of the main body, said insert having an upstanding locking ring in a groove in the main body and an inner annular upwardly facing shoulder, and a plastic ring on said shoulder having approximately one ounce of minute particles of ferrite er1- capsulated therein to provide a pararnagnetic area for detection by a pin sensing apparatus.

21. A bowling pin, comprising, an elongate body of dielectric, nonmagnetic material including a base portion having a attened lower end surface for supporting the pin in standing position, and a plastic ring completely embedded in the base portion concentric with the pin axis including a quantity of an evenly distributed powdered paramagnetic nonmetal displaced -from the lower end surface of the .body to provide a paramagnetic area for detection by a pin sensing apparatus.

22. A bowling pin as dened in claim 1 wherein said pararnagnetic material is a magneto-ferrite.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,575,099 11/1951 Crowley 252-625 2,600,951 6/1952 Edwards 273-1 2,848,235 8/1958 Johns et al. 273-82 2,973,206 2/ 1961 Sanders 273-82 2,980,425 4/ 1961 Zaander 273-82 3,073,597 l/1963 Ernst 273-82 RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.

DELBERT B. LOWE, Examiner.

Claims

1. A BOWLING PIN, COMPRISING, AN ELONGATED MAIN BODY INCLUDING A BASE PORTION HAVING A FLATTENED LOWER END FOR SUPPORTING THE PIN IN STANDING POSITION, AND A QUANTITY OF A PARAMAGNETIC NONMETAL IN SAID BODY ADJACENT ONE END THEREOF AND HAVING MAGNETIC PROPERTIES CAPABLE OF DETECTION BY PIN DETECTING APPARATUS.