US3883141A

US3883141A - Simulated bowling game

Info

Publication number: US3883141A
Application number: US211321A
Authority: US
Inventors: Kenneth C Sherwood
Original assignee: KAE TEE DEV CORP
Current assignee: KAE TEE DEV CORP
Priority date: 1971-12-23
Filing date: 1971-12-23
Publication date: 1975-05-13
Anticipated expiration: 1992-05-13

Abstract

The invention is directed to apparatus of a type which simulates those conditions in the course of a normal bowling game. Provision is made for the players to direct individual balls, simulating a bowling ball, through a starting channel and, then, depending upon the velocity at which the ball leaves the starting channel and the roll which the ball achieves the returning ball, assuming the apparatus to be tilted slightly so that the ball may roll gravitationally toward simulated pin positions after leaving the starting channel, to move to one of a plurality of gating slots. Whenever the ball is in a gating slot it can enter an opening above a switching element. All of the openings are positioned to simulate the positioning of pins in a normal bowling game. For conditions where the ejected ball enters a central slot or passage in which the so-called head-pin is located the player will make a ''''strike.'''' Provisions are made by suitable electrical connections to display the strike condition by lights at all pin positions on a display surface to indicate the condition obtained. Where the initially projected ball falls into a slot other than that of the head-pin it will move to a position such that a lesser number than all of the represented pins are contacted, or it may move laterally outside the field of the so-called pins which will register a ''''gutter ball'''' movement. Where the initial ball passes through a slot other than that corresponding to the head-pin it is possible to eject a second ball which, if it should contact the head-pin all of the pin positions not originally activated will cause the effect of all of the remaining pins to be hit and a ''''spare'''' condition will arise. Otherwise the second ejected ball may either come to rest in a slot of a limited number of pins or also as a ''''gutter'''' ball. When two balls have been ejected (or one ball if a ''''strike'''' situation is realized initially) provisions are made for moving a sub-base in such fashion as to cause a return of the apparatus to an initial state. Scoring arrangements are provided on the apparatus in the field of view of the players. The entire operation, (except for the projection of the ball and the subbase movement) is achieved by way of electrical circuitry connected to switch elements beneath the individually represented pins.

Description

United States Patent 1 Sherwood SIMULATED BOWLING GAME [75] Inventor: Kenneth C. Sherwood, New York,

[73] Assignee: Kae-Tee Development Corporation, New York, NY.

22 Filed: Dec. 23, 1971 21 Appl. No.: 211,321

[52] U.S. Cl. 273/121 A; 273/124 A [51] Int. Cl. A63d 3/00; A63d 13/00 [58] Field of Search ..273/85 R, 119 A- 273/119 R 125 A-l25 R,41

Primary E.\'aminer-Anton O. Oechsle Assistant E.\aminer.loseph R. Taylor .Attorney, Agent, or FirmArthur A. March, Esq.

[57] ABSTRACT The invention is directed to apparatus of a type which simulates those conditions in the course of a normal bowling game. Provision is made for the players to direct individual balls, simulating a bowling ball, through a starting channel and, then, depending upon the velocity at which the ball leaves the starting channel and the roll which the ball achieves the returning ball, assuming the apparatus to be tilted slightly so 1 May 13,1975

that the ball may roll gravitationally toward simulated pin positions after leaving the starting channel, to move to one of a plurality of gating slots. Whenever the ball is in a gating slot it can enter an opening above a switching element. All of the openings are positioned to simulate the positioning of pins in a normal bowling game. For conditions where the ejected ball enters a central slot or passage in which the so-called head-pin is located the player will make a strike." Provisions are made by suitable electrical connections to display the strike condition by lights at all pin positions on a display surface to indicate the condition obtained. Where the initially projected ball falls into a slot other than that of the head-pin it will move to a position such that a lesser number than all of the represented pins are contacted, or it may move laterally outside the field of the so-called pins which will register a gutter ball movement. Where the initial ball passes through a slot other than that corresponding to the head-pin it is possible to eject a second ball which, if it should contact the head-pin all of the pin positions not originally activated will cause the effect of all of the remaining pins to be hit and a *spare" condition will arise. Otherwise the second ejected ball may either come to rest in a slot of a limited number of pins or also as a gutter ball. When two balls have been ejected (or one ball if a strike situation is realized initially) provisions are made for moving a sub-base in such fashion as to cause a return of the apparatus to an initial state. Scoring arrangements are provided on the apparatus in the field of view of the players. The entire operation, (except for the projection of the ball and the sub-base movement) is achieved by way of electrical circuitry connected to switch elements beneath the individually represented pins.

9 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures warm am 1, 319:

SHEET 3 as 5 PATENTED HAY 1 31975 SHEET 4 BF 5 SIMULATED BOWLING GAME DESCRIPTION This invention relates to game apparatus. It is particularly directed to an apparatus for simulating the con ditions of a bowling game. The unit has a base or main panel member whereon the pins are represented. As in a normal bowling condition where a group of ten pins is set up at one end of a bowling lane this apparatus provides a similar arrangement. The pins are arranged in a triangle with four pins on each side and internally three more are positioned. Considering the position laterally, the head pin is alone as the number 1 pin. The second row comprises

pins

2 and 3. The third row is

pins

4, 5 and 6 and the back row is pins 7 to 10.

In each position of the outer pins (

e.g. pins

1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7 and 10) there is an open recess into which the delivered ball used in the game can come to rest, and whereat a switch element to control a representation of what occurred is located. These will be later described. The ball is delivered by the manual movement of a spring energized plunger adapted, when released, to

move a ball along an inclined path beyond a gating position so that by reason of the panel incline the ball returns toward an initial position. In returning the ball falls through different slots to produce different conditions of either pin contact or miss.

In a preferred form of the device the unit is supported on legs. The rear legs are longer than the front legs which results in the device being tilted at a slight angle toward its front. This tilt places the starting position wher eat the players cause the balls, which will simulate a bowling ball, to be ejected or delivered to contact, after it passes through a suitable resilient blocking gate, to enterjdifferent channels aligned with different pin positions. The paths along which the ball can move simulate the path a ball could take in a normal bowling game so that when it was delivered it eventually strikes and topples all or some of the pins, or, if poorly delivj e'red,.it assumes a gutter ball position by a failure to holdto the'alley or lane region proper.

In the operation, the device so supported upon the different length legs to establish a desired tilt, and by virtue of electrical connectionsmounted on a sub-base or panel beneath substantially all of the phantomly represented pins on the main panel a registration of the effectiveness of the delivery is obtained. A contact of the ball with any of the pin positions causes a switch element to close. By virtue of the entire arrangement being connected to a suitable power supply, the closure of one or more of such switch elements is adapted to providefor the illumination of different coordinated pin positions of a display panel located at one end of the tilted frame. Such condition causes a control switch element associated with all outer pin positions to disconnect a part of the circuit, and connect the remain ing part of thecircu'it directly to the power supply, ex-

ce'pt for switch element located under opening of the head pin, which, when depressed, connects the entire circuit to the power supply.

Whenever there is pin contact illumination of different pin areas of the display panel resulting therefrom enables the player to know how many pins have effectively been knocked over by the projected and delivered ball. A scoring sheet located at thebottom of the panel enables the individual players to mark the score from time to time. I

In the operation of the unit the sub-base is connected immediately below the main surface or display panel. Provisions are made for moving the sub-base relative to the main surface panel by suitable control means after any selected number of deliveries or rolls of the ball. Where a normal bowling game is simulated, two balls are provided and these are individually forced upwardly along the tilted surface against gravity to pass through a slot and then outwardly through a one-way (usually resilient) gate element from which they gravitationally fall into regions corresponding to the locations of the individual pins. If it be assumed, for instance, that a projected or delivered ball in its gravitational movement downwardly after leaving the projecting slot and then passing beyond the gate happens to contact the head pin region, then, due to the wiring in the subpanel and through the connected switches, it will cause all lights of the display to become illuminated. The ball will rest in a hole above that switch element associated with the head pin until it is released by a movement ofthe sub-base relative to the main panel through the control, thereby to discharge the ball from a resting position upon the switch and return it to a position from which further operation can be achieved.

Similar conditions, simulating those of a bowling game, obtain where a second ball is delivered where a strike was obtained with the first ball.

With the foregoing in mind, it is apparent that one of the main objects of the arrangement is that of providing a socalled home-type or parlor-type bowling game which simulates conditions that would obtain if the players were in a normal bowling establishment and were able to deliver or project the ball down the lane or alley toward the pins.

Another object of the invention is that of providing a game arrangement simulating a normal bowling condition, where it is possible for the player and others to know immediately the success or failure of the delivered and projected ball to fall through an area such that the desired number of pins is contacted to cause a strike condition in the initial stage, or where a further or second ball is delivered in the event no strike is had with the first ball.

A further object of the invention is that of providing for the movement of a second ball which, if delivered and projected to contact the head pin simulates a condition where all remaining pins not effectively hit by the first ball can be contacted so that a spare condition will arise. Barring a condition where the head pin is contacted by either the first or second delivered ball it is possible to have the delivered balls contact areas where a drop into holes associated with the other pin areas occurs thereby to produce a condition where less than all of the pins would be contacted or upset, although more than a minimum of the pins may have been contacted. This would provide a condition approaching that of a spare although it would be a lesser number than all of the simulated pins.

Other and further objects of the invention, of course, are those of endeavoring to provide by a suitable spring form of ball delivery and projection unit whereby a condition closely simulating that which would obtain in ordinary bowling games would result.

Still other and further objects of the invention will become apparent and at once suggest themselves to those skilled in the art to which the invention is directed by reference to the accompanying drawings read in connection with the description to follow and in reference to the hereinafter appended claims.

Now making reference to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view showing the general nature of the board or field panel of the apparatus, with parts broken away particularly to show the control and re-set feature;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the circuitry by which the different selected operational conditions are achieved; I 1

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1 to show particularly the re-set mechanism and a portion of the switch controls with the display panel shown in upwardly extending side view thereby to show the general arrangement of the indicating lights;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 1 to show particularly the control and contact elements by which the operation is achieved;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the switch contact elements adapted to be operated when the projected ball falls through a hole in the panel where the hole is position'ed to simulate the positioning of pins in a normal bowling game and to subsequently release the ball to a start state;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of an operation of the board to show the general arrangement of the switching contacts such as those of FIG. 5 when the unit is in operation;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view to show the control achieved when either the first or the second projected ball contacts such regions of the panel as to control the lighting effects to simulate a meeting of the ball and of simulated pins in one operation or in two operations as would be the case of a strike ball and a spare ball respectively; and

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of FIG. 7 showing more particularly the switch arrangement for achieving a simulation of strike and spare conditions.

Making reference now to the drawings for a further understanding of the invention and considering first FIG. 1 showing the general layout of the arrangement, the panel 11 has imprinted thereon a plurality of bowling pin representations 12 which, incidentally, carry the numbers 1 through inclusive. These numbers correspond to the position of a multiplicity of lights in a display board 15 which is supported at one end of v 1 represent pin positions and are between other outer lights 130 and 161 (see FIG. 2) later to be described which represent strike and spare conditions. This is achieved through circuitry later to be described, which cause lights 161 to become illuminated each time the ball which is directed toward thepins, as will later be described, contacts the pin areas on the panel 11.

The game is started or initiated by means of a player moving a plunger 18 which is held within a projection channel 20 where the plunger is spring-loaded against a starting block 21 also positioned within the channel. The block 21 connects to the plunger 18 by means of a plunger rod 22. The starting block 21 also has a spring element 23 fastened to it at the end nearest the plunger 18. This spring bears against the inner face 25 of the channel 20 so that when the plunger 18 is pulled by the player in the direction of the arrow the block 21 is pulled back and a ball 27 will roll gravitationally along the slide surface 28 to move through the space 29 and come to rest upon the outer surface 30 of the block 21. A release of the plunger 18 causes the spring 23 to move the so-positioned ball through the channel 20. If the ball is released with enough force it is caused to move toward a spring-like blocking gate element 31 by virtue of being deflected toward the gate by a curved plate 33 at the upper end of the channel 20.

The spring-like gate member 31 is held in a support 34 at one end of the channel 20 and is sufficiently resilient to spring back to the position indicated in FIG. 1 after a ball has been projected through the channel and deflected by the curved member 33 to hit the gate 31 with a force sufficient to open the gate for the ball to pass. In the event the ball speed is sufficient to spring the gate to an extent sufficient to permit the ballto pass into the region beyond the gate and to rest upon a panel generally designated at 35 immediately above all of the simulated pin positions the resilience of the gate will cause it to reassume the original position and preclude a return of the ball to the upper end of channel 20.

The different individual pin representations 1 through 10 are lined up inthe same fashion aswould be the case in an ordinary bowling establishment, ex-

cept that the individual pins are separatedfrom each. 5

other by guide channel walls 36 through 43 inclusive. In the case of the head pin 1 it will be appreciated that the center pin 5 is directly behind it so that the

channel members

39 and 40 at either side of the head pin extend downwardly ans spread out slightly around the pin 5. Similarly since

pins

8 and 9, respectively, are directly behind

pins

2 and 3 the

pins

2 and 3 are held within

channel members

40 and 41 or 38 and 39,respectively. Other pins, such as 7, 4, 6 and 10, do not normally have any pin directly in front of them so that each occupies its own separate channel. Thus, the outer pin positions of the triangle would be those which could be contacted by the delivered ball.

With this arrangement, when a ball is moved upwardly through the channel 20 with sufficient force to pass beyond the gate member 31 it moves in such a direction that normally it would first hit against a spring buffer 47 which extends upwardly from the panel surface 35. The spring is quite resilient to the impact of a ball moving thereagainst but yet is sufficiently rigid to determine to some extent by virtue of its bending, as determined by the force with which it is hit by the moving ball, where the ball will thereafter gravitationally drop and fall back'along the panel surface 11. If, for instance, the ball is projected at a speed such that it rolls downwardly along the panel surface 11 and enters the channel between the

guide plates

39 and 40 it will simulate a position which would be substantially that of a strike in a normal bowling game. It will then come to rest within a circular opening 48 and close a switch member 49 therewith associated.

The operation of this general arrangement will be explained more particularly in connection with FIG. 2, and those other figures which show switch elements. Suffice it at the moment to state that the entire panel board is wired electrically from switch elements supported on a sub-panel board 51 in such fashion that if the switch shown in FIG. 1, and conventionally designated 49, is closed it will cause an effect equivalent to the closure of a switch about each other pin in the assembly. This then simultaneously causes lights, such as 16, on the upwardly extending viewing panel 15 to become illuminated. For a strike condition where the first projected ball falls into the

channel

39, 40, which can be assumed as the position of the head pin 1 thereby to produce a closure of the switch 49, because the ball falls into the opening 48, all lights 16 on the panel 15 will at once illuminate.

If however the initial ball should fail to fall into the

channel

39, 40, but enter some other channel such as

channel

38, 39 then the ball will come to rest in a circular opening 53 and close a switch conventionally designated 54 in FIG. 1. In this event, as will be discussed in considering circuitry connections, it will produce an effect adequate to represent a situation where pins numbered as 3, 6, 9 and in FIG. lhave been hit. This simulation will cause a registration of lights on the display panel which represent a pin contact of this state. Suppose, however, that the ball which would be the normal second ball delivered in an ordinary bowling game should enter the

channel

39, 40 it would come to rest in the opening 48 and close switch 49 so that all remaining pins would have effectively been hit and a condition of spare would result. However, if, for instance, the ball passing out beyond the gate 31 and contacting the spring element 47 should lack enough force to move beyond the channel 38, 39 (looking at FIG. I) it would then fall into one of the channels asso ciated with pins designated as any of 3, 6, 9 and 10 (assuming the condition of contact first suggested) and no further illumination or scoring representations would occur. However, if the force with which the ball is projected is such that it should move for instance into the

channel

41, 42, it would than come to rest in a circular opening 55 and depress a switch 56 which, as will be explained in connection with the circuit diagram, will then produce lighting of lamps coordinated with

pin positions

4 and 7. This under the conditions when there had been no entry into the

channel members

39, 40 or 40, 41 would leave lamps coordinated with

pins

1, 2, 5 and 6 unilluminated and would mean that there had been a miss as far as scoring either a spare or a strike is concerned.

Considering now, however, that the ball momentum as it passes beyond the gate element 31 is very great it could happen that the ball would enter the channel be tween partition 43 and the edge wall 59 which here will be considered as representing a condition of a gutter ball delivery. The ball would then rest finally in a circular pocket 60 and may later be ejected by means of block 21. It is to be understood that a switch element (not shown) may be disposed at 61 to indicate the pres ence of a gutter ball. For a condition where a minimum velocity of the ball projected resulted the ball could fall back and enter another edge channel between

walls

36 and 63 and this also would represent a gutter ball delivery and the ball would come to rest in a circular pocket 64 and close switch element 65, functioning similar to switch 61. As each ball is delivered and propelled through channel 20, because the entire assembly is mounted at an angle to the ground position by means of legs 68 and 69 (see particularly FIG. 3) in which the former are substantially shorter than the latter, the ball will roll and finally reach one of the circular openings designating different pins. It is preferable also to locate an upright spring member, like element 47, substantially adjacent to the entry into any of the channels so that there is a tendency for the ball to be bounced, as it were, in order that there may be some chance regulation in determining which of the several channel can be entered. All of the spring mountings 47 are generally the same and are similarly designated. This spring element 47, aside from serving as a bumper, is half of a two member contact consisting of the spring 47 and an upright metal strip. When spring 47 is struck by a ball the spring is forced to contact the upright metal strip which memontarily completes a circuit between the power supply 76 and buzzer 141 (FIG. 2).

It was above pointed out that as the ball is delivered through the channel 20 and beyond the gate member 31 it finally comes to rest through one of the channels in one of the circular openings and closes by its weight one of the switches shown associated with the openings. Under these conditions the ball is held in the circular opening until the time when it is released by a movement of the sub-panel or sub-base relative to the main panel. This release is occasioned by the player drawing pull rod 67 in the direction shown by the arrow. The rod movement so permitted is sufficient to draw the sub-base 51 toward the player and by virtue of the construction of the hanger with which the subbase 51 is attached to the field panel 11 (FIG. 3) as it is pulled parallel to the main panel the ball is moved up ward and vertically relative to the main panel. This movement forces the ball out of each of the circular openings into which it might have fallen. Such ejection permits the ball to roll to the inclined surface 28 and to finally come to rest adjacent to the plunger 21. At this time the score achieved by the action of the first ball (if a strike results) or the two balls for other conditions will have been noted. These conditions and the obtained score can be recorded or registered on a scoring section 68 at the lower end of the panel where the players have an opportunity to enter their scores in the boxes designated, which correspond to the normal position of scoring on the bowling score sheet.

Now making referenceto FIG. 2 of the drawings for a further understanding of the circuitry by which the conditions described in respect to FIG. 1 are achieved, it may be assumed that the ball projected moves in the first instance parallel to the conductor 70. After passing beyond the spring-like gate 31 the ball contacts one or more of the coiled spring members 47, after which it passes between certain dividers forming the channels from which it can fall into one or more of the circular openings, such as 48, 55, or the equivalent. The panel strips and dividers to make the channels represented in FIG. 1 by the walls such as 39 and 40, for a strike hit, or other channels for simulating the ball striking a lesser number of pins.

If now the projected ball is assumed to pass around the various spring post members 47 so as to move between the

channel sections

39 and 40 it will be appreciated that the first place this ball can come to rest after entering the

channel

39, 40 is in the circular opening 48. There it makes contact with the switch element 49, the details of which will be explained in more detail particularly in respect of the showing in FIGS. 5 and 6 which will later be discussed. Assume now, however, for illustrative purposes, that the ball resting in the circular opening 48 causes the upper section 71 (see FIG. 6) of the switch 49 to be depressed to a limited degree by the weight of the ball it will be apparent that contact is broken between the outer tongue 72 and the downwardly turned section 74 of the second part 75 of the switch element. Under these conditions a circuit is established from the power supply, herein assumed solely for illustrative purposes to be a battery 76 having one terminal connected to a ground connection 77 and a second terminal connected to a conductor 78 to be established by way of the terminal point 79 extending outwardly from the sub-base 51 and then back to ground 77' which constitutes a common ground with that shown at 77. Under these circumstances the closure of the stated portions of the switch element will complete a circuit from the assumed power supply source 76 through the conductor 78 and conductor 81 and the lower terminal 79 and thence through the switch section 71 and conductor 82 connected thereto through to the lamp 83 and then through conductor 84 which connects to conductor 85 which, in turn, connects to the common ground 77'. All other lamps are fed through their respective switches through member 75 (see FIG. 6). For these conditions lamp 83 represents the head pin.

Lamps 87 and 86, respectively, represent pins marked 3 and 2 on the main panel and lamp 88 represents pin marked or 10. The remote side of

lamps

96 and 98 connect through conductors 99 and 101 to a common conductor 102 which leads back to the ground connection 77' (equivalent to that shown adjacent to the assumed voltage source 76).

It can be seen from the circuit of FIG. 2 that when a ball comes to rest in opening 48 (assuming the ball to be that first delivered) circuit connections will be made as follows, so that all lamps will be illuminated simultaneously. These circuits will be from ground 77, the voltage source 76, conductor 78, switch 49, conductor 82, lamp 88 and back to ground 77 through

conductors

154 and 102. Simultaneously, a connection is made via conductor 105 and conductor 151 to switches 150 and 150'. When these connections are made switch 150 connects via conductor 153 to lamp 87 whose remote side connects to conductor 154 and thence to ground 77', as for lamps 83. Switch 150 connects via conductor 85 to lamp 86 and then to conductor 154, as did lamp 87.

Lamps 87 and 86 are positioned to represent

pin positions

3 and 2, respectively, on the main panel 11. Connections also lead from switches 150 and 150' by way of

conductors

108 and 108 to

switches

107 and 107 which, respectively, connect by way of conductors 109 and 109' to

lamps

96 and 96 whose remote side is connected to grounded conductor 102. Whenever such circuits are energized lamps 98 and 111 are also energized because they connect to conductors 109 and 109', respectively, and then to ground 77'.

Further, connections are made by conductors 95 and 120 to

switches

93 and 121. These latter switches connect by way of conductors 92 and 122 to

lamps

88 and 123, which also connect in to ground 77'. At the same time, whenever switch 49 is closed by a ball in opening 48 (and this closure is due to the first delivered ball) a connection is made from the supply 76 through a conductive part of switch 49 to conductor 136 leading to the conductor 135 of switch 133 whose second contact 134 makes connection therewith and leads through conductor 131 to lamp 130 which indicates a strike delivery.

When a condition is obtained such that the ball first enters opening 48 it is desirable that a registration be made at once to show that a condition simulating a strike in bowling has been achieved. To this end a socalled strike lamp has one terminal connected to ground 77' and a second terminal connected by way of conductor 131 through a switch connection designated 133 as already explained.

Under these circumstances the effect of a strike has been achieved by the ball rolled or delivered under the influence of the block 21 as released by the spring 20 entering into the channel between the

partitions

39 and 40 corresponding to the head-pin position and into opening 48. Attention is immediately called to this situation because, as explained above, the lamp 130 immediately is in circuit with the power supply 76 and lights. Also, as above explained, all of the other lamps immediately light and, in addition, it will be seen that buzzer element 141 connects to conductor 142 which, in turn, connects with conductor 126 on one side and connects by way of conductor 145 on the other side back to the ground connection.

Now, suppose that the player is unsuccessful in his first attempt to obtain a strike condition and let it be further assumed that the ball moved through the channel 20 instead of coming to rest in the opening 48 corresponding to the position of pin 1 (the head pin) that the ball should roll into another opening. If such other opening should be opening 53 to activate switch'l50, then a circuit closes from the supply 76 through conductors 78 and 78' to switch and then by conductor 153 to lamp 87, as would also occur if switch 49 was first closed. The illumination of

lamps

96, 98 and 88 is obtained in the same manner as above explained. An analogous condition would obtain if the ball rested in the opening 53' to close switch 150, in which

event lamps

86, 96, 111 and 123 could be lit.

If the spare light 161 is illuminated from a contact such that the head pin opening is contacted on the second ball then of course all lights on the display panel 15 will be also illuminated. However, if it shouldhappen that the second ball delivered through channel 20 fails to fall into the opening 48 (and, of course, under these conditions it is assumed that the first ball did not so fall) but instead falls into the opening 120, then only the light corresponding to pin position No. 7 would be lit because switches beneath openings corresponding to pin

positions

1, 2 and 4 would not have been depressed and consequently the only possibility of closing a circuit through any of the lamps from the source 76 would be through the switch 121, conductor 122 leading to lamp 123 and conductor 124 leading back to ground 77. Thus, for these assumed conditions there would only be four lights of the display panel 15 illuminated and the total score for the two balls would be 4. If, on the other hand, the ball roll is such that the ball enters the gutter track positions as between spacer 36 and wall 63 or between spacer 43 and wall 59 no lamps at all will be illuminated and, of course, the player would not score.

Next reference may be made to FIG. 4 wherein the display panel 15, as above explained, is arranged at one end of the unit and projects upwardly and is arranged to show pin positions as one would see them in ordinary bowling establishments. In this event the simulated pins are shown with the commonly accepted pin numbering except that because of the relationship to the simulated pin positions of FIG. 1 each of numbers lthrough 10 carries a prime number.

Because the panel 11 of FIG. 1 is arranged at right angles to the display panel 15 it will be appreciated that the simulated pin positions of FIG. 1 are opposite those of the display panel 15 and consequently this accounts for the positioning of pin No. 7 for instance in a location to the left as one looks at the showing whereas in an ordinary bowling game, because the ball is inted to be directed toward the head pin 1 as one looks at the pins, the pin would be in the positions shown by FIG. 4.

In looking at FIG. 4 it will be noted that the lamp elements designated in the circuit diagram of FIG. 2 are in positions corresponding to those shown by FIG. 2. Further than this, it will be noted that therchannel through which the ball is delivered or directed by means of the block 21 is in the position to the right, similarly that other channel sections designated on FIG. 1 are similarly located.

FIG. 4 shows in particular the arrangement of the sub-base 51 which carries the switch elements of the character shown by FIG. 6. It is this sub-base which is movable by the pull rod 67 and functions to move the switch elements across and relative to the various openings adjacent to the simulated pin positions. When the switches are so drawn they are caused to force the ball out of the circular openings and to permit it to roll gravitationally to a new starting position. The switch elements per se are shown in exploded form by FIG. 5 where it will be seen that the components of these switches 49 are shown in relation to one of the openings such as 48 into which the rolling ball can drop. When the pull rod 67 is moved in the direction of the arrow it draws the switch section 71 to the right (looking at FIG. 6) and the difference in elevation between the lowermost point of the section 71 and the uppermost point thereof is greater than the spacing between the projected tongue portion 72 and the contacter 71 so that the ball is effectively lifted out of the circular pocket immediately above and rolls down the surface panel 11.

This can be observed particularly by the showing of FIG. 3 where the various switches 49 are shown relative to the circular openings adjacent to the pins, and also to the opening representing the position a so-called gutter ball would assume. Thus, the various openings into which a ball may drop cause the switches to close between contact points 72 and 79 wherever a ball positions itself and with this the conditions happening inthe circuit above described are realized. The wiring connections for establishing electrical conductivity are established by way of pins such as 171, 172 and 173 which are generally the same for each particular switch and are represented by the positionings shown in FIG. 2. It is, of course, to be understood that as the circuit was above described whenever a ball is projected to fall within the opening 48there will be a strike condition obtained because the head pin No. 1 has effectively been hit. Under these circumstances the several other switches, except for that switch immediately below the opening 48, will all remain in the position shown by FIG. 6, although the switch immediately below the opening 48 will close to bring the contact surface 72 adjacent to the contact surface 79 and produce the effects above explained. For strike conditions, as was above mentioned, the result of closing this switch immediately below the opening 48 is such that contact is established at once between

surfaces

134 and 135 of the switch 133. However, as was also above explained, if any of the switches other than the switch below the opening 48 have closed due to a ball falling into one of the openings the next thing that could happen could be that if the second ball should fall into the opening 48 it would close the switch but in these conditions contact would be established between the surface 135 v and surface 175 thereby causing a connection through conductor to the lamp 161 indicative of the spare" condition. Unless either the first or the second delivcred or projected ball should fall into the opening 48 it will be apparent that neither a strike nor a spare could be achieved. Consequently, it will be apparent that only a limited number of lights on the display panel 15 will be lit and the scoring will, of course, be limited to the particular number of lamps which are instantaneously in the closed circuit.

Summarizing since all pins must in effect be hit to realize a strike or spare, and this can only happen when a ball comes to rest in opening 48, the switching member 134 (see FIG. 7) of the strike-spare switch (see FIGS. 7 and 5) is energized through conductor 136 (seeFIG. 2) when and only when switching member 49 is depressed. Now assuming a ball to be resting in opening 48, switching arm 134 (see FIG. 7) is connected to source 76, depending on whether the ball in opening 48 is the first or second ball in play, the strike or spare light will light respectively. For example, if the first ball is resting in 48, switching arm 134 will be connected to source 76, also the second ball will be resting on arm 134 causing it to make contact with arm which completes the circuit to the strike lamp 130 through conductor 131. If, however, the ball resting in opening 48 is the second ball in play, then there is no weight depressing arm 134 and it is in contact with arm (see FIG. 7) which completes the circuit to the spare" lamp 161 through conductor 70.

It is apparent that many modifications of the precise form of connections shown can be utilized to achieve the broad results. Among these would be the substituition of a plug-in AC power supply to substitute for the schematically represented battery 76. Under these conditions, a suitablerectifying circuit which usually would preferably consist of solid state diode components (although other known rectifying circuits are usable) and, if necessary, transformers, resistors and capacitors can be included in the circuit between the ground connecting point and the conductor 78 so that for ease of operation direct current can flow through the arrangement.

Further than this, with suitable step-down transformers it would be possible to operate the mechanism on alternating current, in which event one side of the input plug would connect to the conductor 78 and the other side would connect to the ground point 77.

Still other and various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention as set forth and defined in the herein appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a pin ball game apparatus simulating a bowling establishment for a ten pin game with the pins set in triangular array comprising:

a first panel surface having a forward end and a rear end having pictured thereon a set of pins in reverse position to that in which they are set up at one end of a bowling lane with the head pin in proximity to the forward end of the game apparatus and the 7 and 10 pins in proximity to the rear end of the game apparatus;

an indicating panel set up at an appropriate angle relative to the first panel to image the pin conditions of the first panel;

ball movement arresting means located in positions on the first panel corresponding to each pin position on the outside of the triangle;

channelmeans located on said first panel for directing a ball to one of said ball movement arresting means;

means for projecting a ball and for causing the ball to move into one of said channels to the locus of the pin positions on the first panel;

a subpanel position beneath the first panel;

switch means below each ball movement arresting means;

means for interconnecting the switch so that when a switch is contacted by a projected ball a switch connection is changed, and depending upon the position of the connected switch, the closure of selected ones of the several switches which correspond to the pins, which could fall if a ball in a bowling lane under similar contact so that the interconnected switches represent, together with pin positions directly behind switches, those pins which would have fallen with ball contact;

means for connecting the switch means associated with the ball arresting means for the head pin of the group in a circuit for activating substantially simultaneously all indicating means thereby to simulate a strike hit when the first delivered ball is that reaching the said contacting means; and

means for activating any previously inactive switch means in said ball arresting means for conditions when the second delivered ball is arrested at the location of the head pin thereby to indicate a spare 2. In game apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprising, in addition, means for activating a lesser number of indicating means than indicative of a strike condition when the first delivered ball fails to reach the ball arresting means coordinated with the head pin position.

3. The game apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprising, in addition, a separate display means for indicating a strike condition.

4. The game apparatus claimed in claim 1 comprising, in addition, a separate means for indicating a spare condition.

5. The game apparatus claimed in claim 1 comprising, in addition, a luminous means at each depicted pin position on the display panel, and means for bringing each activated indicating means to an incandescent state indicative of the pin position which would be caused to fall where a bowlers ball reach the pin positions.

6. The game apparatus claimed in claim 1 comprising, in addition, a single source of power for establishing an electrical circuit with switch operation and means to close the activated switch means to provide a current flow to the associated indicating means each time a delivered ball is held in one of the ball-arresting means.

7. A pin ball game apparatus simulating a bowling establishment for a ten-pin game with the pins set in triangular array with seven of the pins along the outer edges of the triangle and three pins set internally thereof comprising: a main panel member having pictured thereon bowling pins in the reverse location to those of a regular bowling lane with the head in proximity to the forward end of the main panel member and the 7 and 10 pins in proximity to the rear end of the main panel member, means to deliver balls one at a time toward the pictured pins and preferably toward the head-pin position of the triangular array and means for arresting the motion of any ball upon reaching such location, a sub-panel below the main panel, switch means adapted to be normally positioned relative to, the ball-arresting means to be changed in operative position from one of open and closed to the opposite state when a ball is delivered to one of the arresting means, electric circuit means interconnecting the switches so that in accordance with the switch position of open or closed condition electrical circuits are established in a relationship one to the other to simulate the pins that could have been displaced with a bowling ball hit in a pin position corresponding to that of the first activated switch, and display panel means for player observation having thereon a general replica of the pin positions, and means for indicating the position of each pin displaced by the delivered ball.

8. The game apparatus claimed in claim 7 comprising, in addition, means for restoring each ball arresting and each ball indicating means to an initial status upon any movement of the sub-panel relative to the main panel.

9. The game apparatus claimed in claim 7 comprising, in addition, means for connecting each of the indicating means to a common point of fixed potential, a singlesource of voltage having one terminal connected to the same fixed potential point, and means provided by the switch operation initiated by a delivered ball including a ball-arresting means and therewith associated switch means for connecting the second terminal of the voltage source with those indicating means of the plurality indicative of the pin-displaced status represented by the ball-arresting means, thereby to provide a closed circuit through selected indicating means.

Claims

1. In a pin ball game apparatus simulating a bowling establishment for a ten pin game with the pins set in triangular array comprising: a first panel surface having a forward end and a rear end having pictured thereon a set of pins in reverse position to that in which they are set up at one end of a bowling lane with the head pin in proximity to the forward end of the game apparatus and the 7 and 10 pins in proximity to the rear end of the game apparatus; an indicating panel set up at an appropriate angle relative to the first panel to image the pin conditions of the first panel; ball movement arresting means located in positions on the first panel corresponding to each pin position on the outside of the triangle; channel means located on said first panel for directing a ball to one of said ball movement arresting means; means for projecting a ball and for causing the ball to move into one of said channels to the locus of the pin positions on the first panel; a subpanel position beneath the first panel; switch means below each ball movement arresting means; means for interconnecting the switch so that when a switch is contacted by a projected ball a switch connection is changed, and depending upon the position of the connected switch, the closure of selected ones of the several switches which correspond to the pins, which could fall if a ball in a bowling lane under similar contact so that the interconnected switches represent, together with pin positions directly behind switches, those pins which would have fallen with ball contact; means for connecting the switch means associated with the ball arresting means for the head pin of the group in a circuit for activating substantially simultaneously all indicating means thereby to simulate a strike hit when the first delivered ball is that reaching the said contacting means; and means for activating any previously inactive switch means in said ball arresting means for conditions when the second delivered ball is arrested at the location of the head pin thereby to indicate a spare.

2. In game apparatus as clAimed in claim 1 comprising, in addition, means for activating a lesser number of indicating means than indicative of a strike condition when the first delivered ball fails to reach the ball arresting means coordinated with the head pin position.

5. The game apparatus claimed in claim 1 comprising, in addition, a luminous means at each depicted pin position on the display panel, and means for bringing each activated indicating means to an incandescent state indicative of the pin position which would be caused to fall where a bowler''s ball reach the pin positions.

7. A pin ball game apparatus simulating a bowling establishment for a ten-pin game with the pins set in triangular array with seven of the pins along the outer edges of the triangle and three pins set internally thereof comprising: a main panel member having pictured thereon bowling pins in the reverse location to those of a regular bowling lane with the head in proximity to the forward end of the main panel member and the 7 and 10 pins in proximity to the rear end of the main panel member, means to deliver balls one at a time toward the pictured pins and preferably toward the head-pin position of the triangular array and means for arresting the motion of any ball upon reaching such location, a sub-panel below the main panel, switch means adapted to be normally positioned relative to the ball-arresting means to be changed in operative position from one of open and closed to the opposite state when a ball is delivered to one of the arresting means, electric circuit means interconnecting the switches so that in accordance with the switch position of open or closed condition electrical circuits are established in a relationship one to the other to simulate the pins that could have been displaced with a bowling ball hit in a pin position corresponding to that of the first activated switch, and display panel means for player observation having thereon a general replica of the pin positions, and means for indicating the position of each pin displaced by the delivered ball.

9. The game apparatus claimed in claim 7 comprising, in addition, means for connecting each of the indicating means to a common point of fixed potential, a single source of voltage having one terminal connected to the same fixed potential point, and means provided by the switch operation initiated by a delivered ball including a ball-arresting means and therewith associated switch means for connecting the second terminal of the voltage source with those indicating means of the plurality indicative of the pin-displaced status represented by the ball-arresting means, thereby to provide a closed circuit through selected indicating means.