US3123356A - Spare selector apparatus and method for setting less - Google Patents

Description

March 3, 1964 R. s. MORELAND SPARE SELECTOR APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SETTING LESS THAN TEN PINS FOR PRACTICE BOWLING Filed March 8, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 -1 f gr/w Carib/1 LESS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 R. S. MORELAND March 3, 1964 SPARE SELECTOR APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SETTING THAN TEN PINS FOR PRACTICE BOWLING Filed March 8, 1961 R. S. MORELAND March 3, 1964 LESS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 SPARE SELECTOR APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SETTING THAN TEN PINS FOR PRACTICE BOWLING Filed March 8, 1961 March 3, 1964 R s. MORELAND 3,123,356

SPARE SELECTOR APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SETTING LESS THAN TEN PINS FOR PRACTICE BOWLING Filed Maren 8, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States Patent 3,123,356 SPARE SELECTOR APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SETTING LESS THAN TEN PINS FOR PRAC- TICE BOWLING Robert S. Moreland, 2626 Poplar Place, South Gate, Calif. Filed Mar. s, 1961, Ser. No. s4,294 18 Claims. (Cl. 273-43) This invention relates to automatic pin setting systems for bowling alleys and provides a method and means, for use in conjunction with various types of automatic pin setting machines currently in use, for setting up any partic ular pin or combination of pins for spare bowling practice, or for other purposes.

Before the advent, and widespread use, of the automatic pinsetting machines which may be found today in almost every public bowling alley in the United States, the ten bowling pins were set up by hand. If a bowler were desirous of practicing bowling at any particular pin or combination of pins less than the full ten, he had only to instruct the alley boy which pin or pins he wished set up.

Although the desirability of so setting up spares was recognized, and some provision made therefor, in early patents on automatic pinsetting machines (as, for example, in U.S. Patents Nos. 1,468,212 to H. A. Redfield, and 1,524,241 to E. Hedenskoog), the arrangements disclosed in these patents have not been incorporated in any of the three types of automatic pinsetting machines which are available and in use at the present date, namely, those made by Brunswick-Balke-Collender Co., of Chicago, Illinois; by American Machine & Foundary Corporation of Philadelphia, Pa.; and by BoWl-Mor Corporation of Boston, Mass.

Further, the arrangements disclosed in the patents mentioned above may not readily be employed in all of the three types of automatic pinsetting machines since each of the latter operates with somewhat different mechanisms.

The desirability of making some provision in, or in conjunction with, an automatic pinsetting machine to enable the bowler to set up a pre-selected pin or combination of pins (sometimes herein referred to as spare selection) for practice purposes is almost universally recognized by all bowling enthusiasts. It is also desirable from another standpoint: If upon the roll of the first ball, a pin is moved out of any position where it can be picked up and redeposited by the pinsetting machine, but remains standing, upon the cycling of the conventional pinsetting machines, such moved pin will ordinarily be knocked down by the machine and swept off the alley with the other fallen pins, since misalignment of a pin by such moving prevents the machine from picking up the moved pin and redepositing it by the machines scissor mechanisms. However, according to the Rules of the American Bowling Congress, a pin knocked down by the automatic pin setting machine must be reset in its original position. With present machines, such resetting must be done manually, and requires complete inactivation of the machine while someone climbs under the machine onto the alley to effect the resetting. This not only ties up an alley for loss of valuble minutes, but is dangerous to the person resetting the pin because of the voltages used by the machine and the ever present possibility that someone may inadvertently reactivate and recycle the machine while the person is under the latter setting up the fallen pin. Such a movement of a pin can, and does, occur frequently in the course of an evenings tournament or league play.

The present invention provides simple and inexpensive means for use in conjunction with standard automatic pinsetting machines, to efiect spare selection. In the preferred embodiment, such spare selection is accomplished "ice by installing in and below the alley floor, and under each pin position, a solenoid which, upon energization, thrusts upwardly a striker shaft to topple the pin above it in a direction which will avoid knocking over any other pins. The energization of the solenoids is controlled by a switching panel located at the opposite end of the alley adjacent the ball return rack, and connected by a cable to the battery of solenoids. This switching panel contains ten switches, each of which is either directly, or through relays, placed in series with the solenoids for a designated pin. All switches are ordinarily closed, and are opened only by manual switching on the panel, so that when current is applied to the solenoid circuits, the solenoids whose switches are unopened are actuated to knock over their respective pins. An indicator light for each switch may be provided to show which switches are opened, and hence, which pins will be left standing. Current is applied to all solenoid circuits simultaneously by means of a switch controlled by a master relay which is, itself, energized by closing a switch also simultaneously initiating cycling of the pinsetting machine.

Spare selection is thus accomplished simply by opening the panel switch or switches corresponding to the pin or pins which the bowler desires to leave standing, thereby breaking the circuits to the corresponding solenoids. When the master relay applies current momentarily to the solenoids, only those of the latter, the circuits of which remain closed, will topple over their respective pins. The automatic pinsetting machine is simultaneously cycled to pick up the pins thus left standing, sweep away the fallen pins in the usual manner, and redeposit the pins thus picked up onto the positions from which they have been picked up.

The nature and operation of the present invention may be more fully understood from a consideration of the following detailed specification in reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective schematic view of a bowl ing alley in which the present invention may be installed;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken of the line 22 of FIGURE 1, showing the solenoid assembly installed in the alley floor below the No. 9 pin;

FIGURE 3 is a section taken on the line 33 of FIG- URE 2, illustrating the movement of the solenoid actuated shaft to effect toppling of the No. 9 pin;

FIGURE 3a is an enlarged sectional view of the plug employed to mount the solenoid shown in FIGURES 2 and 3 in the alley floor;

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of the pin placement area of the alley, showing the location of the respective solenoid actuated striker shafts in relation to the several pin positions;

FIGURE 5 is a schematic view of a simplified switching arrangement;

FIGURE 6 is a schematic diagram of alternative electrical circuit and switch panel arrangement;

FIGURE 7 is a schematic diagram of the preferred electrical circuit and switch panel arrangement for practicing the present invention;

FIGURE 8 is a partial schematic diagram of an alternative arrangement for knocking down pins; and

FIGURE 9 is a similar partial diagram of a further alternative arrangement.

FIGURE 1 illustrates schematically a conventional bowling alley layout, which comprises an alley flooring 11 at one end of which is the pin placement area 12. The other end of the alley is the ball delivery area 14. The bowler moves and slides in the area 16 to release the ball onto the alley floor 11 beyond the line 18. Pins 20 are set up by the automatic pin setting machine designated generally by the numeral 22. The details of this latter machine per se, do not constitute any part of the present invention and hence, are not shown in the drawings. However, the present invention requires for its execution the standard cycling action of commercially available pinsetting machines. Upon actuation, either through switch ing action at the delivery end of the alley, or upon the delivered ball striking a backing plate 24, a unit of such pinsetting machines drops down and picks up any pins which may be left standing, lifts such pins vertically a predetermined distance above the alley floor, drops down a sweeper device (not shown) to sweep the pin placement area of the alley clear of all fallen pins (sometimes known as deadwood), and then replaces the pins which ithas picked up in the positions in which they stood at the time of pick-up.

The present invention effects spare selection by providing in and under the alley floor directly below each pin position a solenoid 26 which, when energized by a current flow, causes a centrally disposed plunger or shaft 28 to move rapidly upwardly to protrude approximately one-half /2) inch above the alley fioor in the manner shown in FIGURE 3. This rapid vertical movement of the plunger or shaft 28, when directed at an area to one side of the center 3t? of the bottom 32 of the pin 24), causes the pin to topple over on its opposite side. By locating the shafts 28 of each of the ten solenoids, one for each pin, in a pre-selected disposition in relation to the pin center 30, each pin can be made to topple over and move in the direction of the respective arrows shown in FIGURE 4, upon energization of its respective solenoid, thereby to avoid striking adjacent standing pins.

Each solenoid 26 preferably is of the type which is housed in a cylindrical container 26a having a mounting flange 26b, and, upon energization, effects a quick and violent upward movement of the shaft 28. Such solenoids are commercially available and relatively inexpensive, particularly if designed to operate from a 110 or 24 voltage source. The solenoid may be simply mounted by drilling a hole 29 through both the subflooring 31 and the surface flooring 33, and counterboring the latter flooring to provide a slightly larger coaxial counterbore hole 2% in the flooring 33. The diameter of the hole 29 is preferably only sufficiently larger than the outside diameter of the cylindrical solenoid container 26a to provide for a snug fit of the container within the hole. The solenoid 26 may be mounted in the alley flooring 31, 33 by means of a fiat wooden or plastic plug 35 of such size and configuration as to seat in the counterbore hole 2%. This plug 35 is centrally orificed at 35a to permit the plunger or shaft 28 to pass therethrough upon actuation of the solenoid 26. The latter is mounted to the plug 35 by means of its flange 26b, and the combined plugsolenoid unit is then inserted into the holes 29, 29a, and secured therein by screws 36, adhesive 37 or both. As shown in greater detail in FIGURE 30, desirably the plug 35 may be slightly frusto-conical in shape, and an annular plastic wood cushion 38 may be employed to effect better seating of the plug 35, particularly where an adhesive 37 is used. To avoid damage to the underside 32 of the pin Ed, the plunger or shaft 2% is capped with a plastic material 43, such as nylon or Teflon.

When the solenoid 26 is not energized, the upper surface 43 of the shaft cap 39 is disposed flush with the plug 35 and alley surface flooring 33 to prevent any interference with the lateral movement of the pin upon being struck by a ball or another pin. When the solenoid 26 is not energized, the plunger or shaft 28 drops down by force of gravity to its unenergized position shown in FIGURE 2 To effect the knocking over of pins which the bowler does not wish to leave standing as one of his pre-seleeted spare combination, it would be possible to provide a simple switching arrangement such as shown in FIGURE 5. In this embodiment a control panel 34 (FIGURE 1) is disposed at the delivery and of the alley iii, and a series of wires, preferably in the form of a cable 41, are connected to the battery of solenoids 26 located in and below the alley floor of the pin placement area 12 of the alley. As each switch button 42 in the control panel 34 is pressed, its switch 44a closes a circuit to energize a correspondingly positioned solenoid 26 to knock over the pin above the latter. Ultimately, the bowler would have left standing only the pin or pins over solenoids 26, the panel buttons 42 for which he fails to press. Such a simple system has certain disadvantages, among which is the fact that the bowler must spend time going over his control panel 34, to knock off as many as nine different pins one at a time. Should he inadvertently press a button for the Wrong solenoid, he would then have to recycle the automatic pinsetting machine to set up a new frame of ten pins, and again start pressing his panel buttons 42. Also, this simple system presents some difficulty to the bowler in ascertaining the pins he has knocked down.

In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, the control panel switches 40, as shown in FIGURE 6, are each placed in series, through a wiring connection 42 with the coil 48 of a low voltage switching relay 44, which is energized by the 24 volt output of the transformer 56. The switch 5t} of the relay 44 serves to open or close the volt circuit line 46-46 of the coil of the solenoids 26. Switch 50 is normally closed. However, the 110 volt line to all the solenoids is normally kept open by switch 52 in the master 110' volt relay 54. Consequently, only when the switch 52 is closed by the master relay "54, will all of the solenoids 26', whose circuits through the switches 50 of relays 44 remain closed, receive current, and thereby be energized to cause their respective plungers or shafts 28 to move upwardly, in the manner previously explained, to knock over their respective pins 20'.

The closing of any control panel switch 40 will result in energizing the coil 48 of the relay 44 with which such switch 46 is in circuit, thereby to open the switch 50 and break the circuit through the 110 volt line 4-646. When the master relay switch 52 is then closed, no current will flow through the 110 volt lines 46-46 into the coils of the solenoids 26 whose circuits are so broken, to energize the same. Consequently, the pins above such solenoids will not be toppled, since there will be no move ment of their respective solenoid shafts 28.

It may readily be seen, therefore, that with the circutry shown in FIGURE 6, it is a simple matter for a bowler to select any pin or combination of pins which he desires to keep standing by simply closing such of the switches it! as correspond to these pins.

The 24 volt relays 44 are also interposed in the solenoid circuits to eliminate danger of serious shock and possible electrocution of the bowler through touching of the control panel 34. Energization of the 24 volt relays 44 is accomplished through the transformer 55, one side of which is placed in series with a switch 57 of relay 58. The latter is provided to enable a person in the bowling alley oflice, through a switch 6%, to limit use of the spare bowling system in accordance with arrangements made with the alley owner. Transformer 62 provides the current to energize the relay 58 upon closing of the switch 69'. An indicator light 64 may be provided in order to indicate to the bowler when the switch 57 of the relay '53 is closed, so that spare selection may be accomplished through closing of the switches ill on the control panel 34.

Each switch 40 is provided with an immediate adjacent series light 65 which lights up when its switch 46 is closed. In this way the bowler may, by observing the illuminated panel lights, see which cor-responding pins will be left standing. This enables the bowler to note by reference to illuminated indicator lamps which spare combination he has set up by his switching action on the panel 3 The master relay 54 is energized by the bowlers pressing the A button 66 to operate a switch 68 to close another circuit from the transformer 62 to the coil 70 of the master relay 54. When the coil 70 is thus energized, the switch 52 closes the 110 volt circuit to the solenoids 26, as heretofore explained. A circuit breaker 50a desirably should be included in the 110 volt line in series with the solenoids to prevent damage to the solenoids in case of malfunctioning of the relays 4d.

Desirably, pressing the A button 66 also simultaneously closes a second switch 72 in the circuit Ba-73b of the automatic pinsetting machine (not shown), to elfect an initiation of the cycling of the latter.

it will be seen, therefore, that after the switches 40 are closed [for those pins which are to be left standing, the pressing of the A button 66 effects a closing of the switch 52 in the 110 volt [line 46 to energize all of the solenoids 26, the respective relays 44 of which have not been energized by the closing of their switches 40. Thereby, all of the pins above the energized solenoids 26 will be simultaneously toppled over, and, at the same time, the automatic pinsetting machine 22 begins its cycle of dropping down to pick up those pins which are left standing, sweeping the alley of the fallen pins and redepositing the pins so picked up to the positions from which they were picked up. In this manner, the desired spare combination will be left standing on the alley for the bowler.

In the simplified and preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGURE 7, each solenoid 26 which, when energized, will topple a pin in the manner heretofore explained is connected in circuit to be so energized by the transformer 56a, upon the closing of one of the switches 40a and the master relay switch 520 in a manner similar to the operation of relay switch 52 in the FIGURE 6 embodiment. Each of these switches 40a are of the double-pole, double-throw type. In its right-hand closing position, the lower switch blade 49b completes the circuit from one of the solenoids 26 to the 24 volt transformer 56a. Simultaneously the upper blade 40c in the right-hand position completes no circuit.

In the left-hand closing position, the converse result occurs, the blade 40c closing a circuit from the transformer 62a through a series indicator light 65a to illuminate the latter (when the office control switch 64 in series with all switches 40a, is also closed).

Thus, when a light 65a is illuminated, it indicates that the corresponding solenoid circuit to transformer 56a is broken so that solenoid 26 will not be energized when the A button 66 is pressed to close the circuits to all solenoids 26 whose switches 4% are in the right-hand closing position. Thereby, the pins corresponding to the lighted switches will be left standing.

Ihlumination of the light 64- indicates that the control switch '60 has been closed so that spare bowling set-ups may be obtained through operation first of the switches 40a on the control panel 34, and then by pressing the A button 66.

The principal advantage of this FIGURE 7 embodiment lies in the elimination of eleven relays, the cost of which exceeds considerably the cost of the special switches 40a.

While the systems of FIGURES 17 are based upon the use of electrically operated solenoids which provide physical impact of their respective striker arms 28 upon the base of the pins to topple them, it will be readily appreciated that any other means of providing a sudden force of sufficient magnitude and proper direction against preselected pins is within the scope of the present invention. For example, instead of providing such force by suddenly driving a striker shaft upward in the manner hereinbefore described, a pneumatic system schematically illustrated partially in FIGURE 8 could be provided. In such arrangement, air under pressure is maintained in the lines 80, one of which goes to each solenoid operated valve 82. The latter, when opened by its solenoid 84,

emits a. short blast of air through the orifice '86 in the alley flooring. Each orifice 86 is disposed in relation to its pin axis similarly to the disposition of the striker shafts, as shown in FIGURE 4. The operation of the valves 82 through the solenoids '84 may be accomplished in the manner previously described for the FIGURES 1-7 embodiment.

A still further alternative arrangement for accomplishing the method of the present invention would be by the use of hydraulic rams to topple the pins, in lieu of the electrically operated solenoids 26. This is partially illustrated in FIGURE 9. Such arms could be actuated wholly by a hydraulic system, or by a partial hydraulic system with electrical valve control. All these different possible arrangements are within the scope of the present invention.

It will thus be seen that the present invention provides a practical method and means, for use in conjunction with automatic pinsetting equipment, by which the bowler may simply and effectively set up spare combinations of his own selection. Moreover, since the means so provided are located in the alley floor and are not incorporated in the pinsetting machine itseif (the latter operating in its regular and intended manner), the present invention may be employed with any of the commercially available automatic pinsetting machines. This feature enables the present invention to be installed in any bowling alley, whether the automatic pinsetting machinery is leased or is owned by the bowling establishment, or whether a different machine is ever employed to replace the automatic pinsetter which may happen to be employed at the time of the installation of an arrangement of the present invention.

I claim:

1. Means to effect the setting up of any pin or combination of pins less than ten, in a bowling alley having an automatic pinsetting machine which, after having first set up a frame of ten pins, upon further cyclingactuation, picks up pins left standing, clears from the alley all fallen pins, and then redeposits the pins to the respective positions from which such pins were so picked up, said means comprising: a series of individual first means disposed adjacent the pin placement area of the alley, each of said first means comprising a shaft disposed in the alley floor below a pin position and to one side of the pin axis, said shaft being slideable vertically upwardly to project above the plane of the alley floor; second means, said second means being adapted when actuated, to drive said shaft suddenly upwardly through the alley floor with a force of sufficient magnitude to fell the pin in the said position; and control means, said control means including a series of switching means, each of said switching means being connected with said second means selectively to cause one of said shafts so to be driven upwardly by said second means, thereby to fell any preselected pin. 2. The means as described in claim 1 wherein each shaft is disposed in relation to the axis of the pin above it so as to knock over the pin in a predetermined direction to avoid striking any other pins which remain standing.

3. The means described in claim 1 wherein the second means comprise a series of electrically operated solenoids.

4. Means as described in claim 1 wherein the second means are comprised of a series of hydraulically operated solenoids.

5. Means to effect the setting up of any pin or combination of pins less than ten, in a bowling alley having an automatic pinsetting machine which, after having first set up a frame of ten pins, upon further cycling actuation, picks up pins left standing, clears from the alley all fallen pins, and then redeposits the pins to the respective positions from which such pins were so picked up, said means comprising: a series of air jet outlets disposed in the alley floor underneath each pin position, each outlet being so placed in relation to the axis of the pin that when a jet of air under pressure is emitted through the outlet, the

pin is caused to topple in a direction outwardly of the pin frame and in such a manner as to avoid striking any other standing pin; a source of air under pressure conducted to each said outlet; a valve interposed between said source of air under pressure and said outlet, said valve being adapted, upon opening, to emit a jet of air under pressure of suflicient force to fell the pin standing over the outlet; and control means, said control means including a series of switching means, each of said switching means being connected with one of the valve means selectively to open the last said valve means, thereby to cause emission of a jet of air so to fell the pin above the airjet outlet.

6. Means to effect the setting up of any pin or combination of pins less than ten, in a bowling alley having an automatic pinsetting machine which, after having first set up a frame of ten pins, upon further cycling actuation, picks up pins left standing, clears from the alley all fallen pins, and then redeposits the pins to the respective positions from which such pins were so picked up, said means comprising: a series of solenoids, one of said solenoids being disposed below the alley floor and directly under each pin position, the alley floor at each said pin position being orificed at a predetermined location relative to the axis of the pin position, each of said solenoids including a vertically movable striker shaft so disposed as to be slideable through the said orifice in the alley floor for its respective pin position, and each said solenoid, when energized by a flow of current, being adapted to drive its said riker shaft suddenly upwardly through said orifice a suflicient distance and with sufficient force to topple the pin in a preselected direction relative to the pin axis; a source of current; and a switching system to enable a bowler to energize the solenoids under selected pin positions and thereby to cause the pins on said positions to be toppled, and to sequentially cycle the pinsetting machine to remove only said toppled pins, said switching system including a series of first relays, one of said relays having a normally closed switch element connected in series between one of said solenoids and said source of current, said switch element being opened upon energization of its relay coil by circuit connections to said source of current; circuit means connecting each of said relays to said source of current, said circuit means including a separate lead to its respective said relay from one pole of said source of current, and a plurality of manual switching means, one of the last said means being provided for each relay and being placed in series in said separate lead thereto to break the circuit to its respective relay through said lead when the said switching means is opened, each said switching means being normally opened and closeable in response to manual operation; and further switching means connected to effect recycling of the machine.

7. Means to effect the setting up of any pin or combination of pins less than ten, in a bowling alley having an automatic pinsetting machine which, after having first set up a frame of ten pins, upon further cycling actuation, picks up pins left standing, clears from the alley all fallen pins, and then redeposits the pins to the respective positions from which such pins were so picked up, said means comprising: a series of solenoids, one of said solenoids being disposed below the alley fioor and directly under each pin position, the alley floor at each said pin position being orificed at a predetermined location relative to the axis of the pin position, each of said solenoids including a vertically movable striker shaft so disposed as to be slideable through the said orifice in the alley floor for its respective pin position, and each said solenoid, when energized by a fiow of current, being adapted to drive its said striker shaft suddenly upwardly through said orifice a suflicient distance and with sufficient force to topple the pin in a preselected direction relative to the pin axis; a source of current; and a switching system to enable a bowler to energize the solenoids under selected pin positions and thereby to cause the pins on said positions to be toppled, and to sequentially cycle the pinsetting machine to remove only said toppled pins, said switching system including a series of first relays, one of said relays having a normally closed switch element connected in series between one of said solenoids and said source of current, said switch element being opened upon energization of its relay coil by circuit connections to said source of current; circuit means connecting each of said relays to said source of current, said circuit means including a separate lead to its respective said relay from one pole of said source of current; a plurality of manual switching means, one of the last said means being provided for each relay and being placed in series in said separate lead thereto to break the circuit to its respective relay through said lead when the said switching means is opened, each said switching means being normally opened and closeable in response to manual operation; a master relay, said master relay having a switch, said switch being placed in series in said circuit means between the source of current and all of said first mentioned relays, said switch being normally opened and closeable upon energization of the master relay coil by connection of the latter to said source of current; means including a further manual switch, connecting said master relay coil to said source of current; and further switching means connected to eifect recycling of the machine.

8. Means to effect the setting up of any pin or combination of pins less than ten, in a bowling alley having an automatic pinsetting machine which, after having first set up a frame of ten pins, upon further cycling actuation, picks up pins left standing, clears from the alley all fallen pins, and then redeposits the pins to the respective positions from which such pins were so picked up, said means comprising: a series of solenoids, one of said solenoids being disposed below the alley floor and directly under each pin position, the alley floor at each said pin position being orificed at a predetermined location relative to the axis of the pin position, each of said solenoids including a vertically movable striker shaft so disposed as to be slideable through the said orifice in the alley floor for its respective pin position, and each said solenoid, when energized by a flow of current, being adapted to drive its said striker shaft suddenly upwardly through said orifice a sufficient distance and with sufiicient force to topple the pin in a preselected direction relative to the pin axis; a source of current; and a switching system to enable a bowler to energize the solenoids under selected pin positions and thereby to cause the pins on said positions to be toppled, and to sequentially cycle the pinsetting machine to remove only said toppled pins, said switching system including a series of first relays, one of said relays having a normally closed switch element connested in series between one of said solenoids and said source of current, said switch element being opened upon energization of its relay coil by circuit connections to said source of current; circuit means connecting each of said relays to said source of current, said circuit means including a sepmate lead to its respective said relay from one pole of said source of cur-rent, a plurality of manual switching means, one of the last said means being provided for each relay and being placed in series in said separate lead thereto to break the circuit to its respective relay through said lead when the switching means is opened, each said switching means being normally opened and closeable in response to manual operation; a plurality of indicator light means, each of the last said means being connected in circuit with one of said manual switching means to illuminate upon the closing of said one of said manual switching means; a master relay, said master relay having a switch, said switch being placed in series in said circuit means between the source of current and all of said first mentioned relays, said switch being normally opened and closeable upon energization of the master relay coil by connection of the latter to said source of current; means including a further manual switch, consat 'necting said master relay coil to said source of current; and further switching means connected to effect recycling of the machine.

9. The means described in claim 8, wherein the source of current is a 110 volt source and transformer means are provided to reduce the voltage to a substantially lesser amount in the individual relay switching circuits, to minimize danger to the bowler in operating the several manual switching means.

10. Means to effect the setting up of any pin or combination of pins less than ten, in a bowling alley having an automatic pinsetting machine which, after having first set up a frame of ten pins, upon further cycling actuation, picks up pins left standing, clears from the alley all fallen pins, and then redeposits the pins to the respective positions from which such pins were so picked up, said means comprising: a series of solenoids, one of said solenoids being disposed below the alley floor and directly under each pin position, the alley floor at each said pin position being orificed at a predetermined location relative to the axis of the pin position, each of said solenoids including a vertically movable striker shaft so disposed as to be slideable through the said orifice in the alley floor for its respective pin position, and each said solenoid, when energized by a flow of current, being adapted to drive its said striker shaft suddenly upwardly through said orifice a sufficient distance and with sufficient force to topple the pin in a preselected direction relative to the pin axis; first and second sources of electric current; and a switching system to enable a bow-ler to energize the solenoids under selected pin positions and thereby to cause the pins on said positions to be toppled, and to sequentially cycle the pinsetting machine to remove only said toppled pins, said switching system including a series of switches, each of said switches being double-pole double throw and having first and second separately insulated armature blades adapted to be moved simultaneously between pairs of separately insulated terminals; first circuit means connecting each of said armature blades to one pole of a different one of said two sources of current; further circuit means connecting one terminal for the first said blade one switch closing position to one terminal of one of said solenoids, the other terminal of said solenoid being connected to the other pole of the same source of current as the last said switch blade; a series of ten indicator lamps, each said laanp being positioned to correspond in relation to the other lamps with the positions of a preselected pin in relation to other pins in the pin frame; and additional circuit means connecting the terminal for the other armature blade in the other switch closing position through the said lamp to the other terminal of the same source of current as the said armature blade; whereby when any lamp is illuminated by its switch being in the lamp circuit closing position, the solenoid circuit in which said switch is connected is opened so that no current can flow to energize the last said solenoid, and conversely.

11. The means described in claim 10, wherein a switching relay is provided; said relay having a switch which, upon energization of the relay coil, closes, but otherwise remains open, said switch 'being placed in the first circuit means in series with all solenoids to break their respective connections to the one source of current when the relay switch is open; a master switch is further provided, and said relay and master switch are connected in circuit in series with the other source of current, whereby only when said master switch is closed will the said series of switches in their solenoid circuit closing positions effect actuation of their respective solenoids.

12. The means described in claim 11 wherein a further control switch and indicator lamp circuit are provided in circuit in series with one of said sources of current to indicate when the solenoid circuits may be closed by the closing of one or more of the said series switches and the master relay switch.

13. The method of setting up any pin or combination of pins less than ten in a bowling alley having an auto matic pinsetting machine which, upon cycling actuation, after having first deposited a full frame of ten pins, senses the presence of, and picks up, pins left standing, clears from the alley all fallen pins, and then redeposits the pins to the respective positions from which such pins were so picked up, said method comprising the steps of causing the said machine to be cycled first to set up a full frame of ten pins; selectively toppling, prior to bowling, all pins not to be included among those in the pin or combination of pins to be set up; causing the said machine to be cycled to pick up the pins remaining standing, sweeping the toppled pins from the alley, and redepositing the pins picked up to their respective positions from which they were picked up.

14. The method of setting up any pin or combination of pins less than ten in a bowling alley having an automatic pinsetting machine which, upon cycling actuation, after having first deposited a full frame of ten pins, senses the presence of, and picks up, pins left standing, clears from the alley all fallen pins, and then redeposits the pins to the respective positions from which such pins were so picked up, said method comprising the steps of causing the said machine to be cycled first to set up a full frame of ten pins; selectively toppling all pins not to be included among those in the pin or combination of pins to be set up; the direction of toppling in each instance being lateral- 1y outward from the frame to avoid collision with other standing pins; causing the said machine to be cycled to pick up the pins remaining standing; sweeping the toppled pins from the alley, and redepositing the pins picked up to their respective positions from which they were picked up.

15. The method of setting up any pin or combination of pins less than ten in a bowling alley having an auto matic pinsetting machine which, upon cycling actuation after having first deposited a full frame of ten pins, senses the presence of, and picks up, pins left standing, clears from the alley all fallen pins, and then redeposits the pins to the respective positions from which such pins were so picked up, said method comprising the steps of causing the said machine to be cycled first to set up a full frame of ten pins; selectively toppling all pins not to be included among those in the pin or combination of pins to be set up by striking each pin a blow delivered at its underside so that the direction of toppling in each instance is laterally outward from the frame and avoids collision with other standing pins; causing the said machine to be cycled to pick up the pins remaining standing; sweeping the toppled pins from the alley; and redepositing the pins picked up to their respective positions from which they were picked up.

16. Means to effect the setting up of any pin or combination of pins less than ten, in a bowling alley having an automatic pinsetting machine which, after having first set up a frame of ten pins, upon further cycling actuation, picks up pins left standing, clears from the alley all fallen pins, and then redposits the pins to the respective positions from which such pins were so picked up, said means comprising:

(a) a series of normally inoperative members disposed adjacent the pin placement area of the alley, each of said members, when operative, applying a force directly against a preselected pin, of sufiicient magnitude to fell the same; and

(b) control means, including manually operable means for selectively operating preselected normally inoperative members of said series, to fell a preselected number of said pins prior to the further cycling of said machine to pick up the remaining unfelled pins, to clear the alley and to redeposit said picked up pins.

17. Means to effect the setting up of any pin or combination of pins less than ten, in a bowling alley having an automatic pinsetting machine which, after having first set up a frame of ten pins, upon further cycling actuation,

1 1 picks up pins left standing, clears from the alley all fallen pins, and then redeposits the pins to the respective positions from which such pins were so picked up, said means comprising:

(a) a series of normally inoperative members disposed adjacent the pin placement area of the alley, each of said members, when operative, applying a force against the underside of a preselected pin of sufficient magnitude and so directed to fell the same in a direction laterally outwardly and to avoid the striking of any other standing pins;

(b) means adapted to actuate each of said members;

and

(c) control means, said control means including manually operable means for selectively operating preselected normally inoperative members of said series, to fell a preselected number of said pins prior to the further cycling of said machine to pick up the remaining unfelled pins, to clear the alley and to redeposit said picked up pins.

18. Means to effect the setting up of any pin or combination of pins less than ten for spare bowling, in a bowling alley having an automatic pinsetting machine which, after having first set up a frame of ten pins, upon further cycling actuation, picks up pins left standing, clears from the alley all fallen pins, and then redeposits the pins to the respective positions from which such pins were so picked up, said means comprising:

(a) a series of normally inoperative members disposed adjacent the pin placement area of the alley, each of said members when operative applying a force directly against a preselected pin, of sufficient magnitude to fell the same;

(b) a source of power;

(c) a series of individual first means, each of said first means when energized by said source of power, actuating a preselected one of said normally inoperative members; and

(d) control means, said control means including:

(i) a master switch interposed in series between said source of power and said first means; and (ii) a plurality of normally closed switching means elements, one of each of said switching means elements being connected in a series with a preselected one of said first means and said master switch;

whereby, upon the opening of preselected ele ments of said switching means and the closing of the master switch, selective actuation of the series of normally inoperative members by said first means is accomplished to fell certain preselected pins, and to leave standing other preselected pins, so that upon the said cycling of the automatic pinsetting machine, the latter pins are left standing for spare bowling.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

Claims (1)

13. THE METHOD OF SETTING UP ANY PIN OR COMBINATION OF PINS LESS THAN TEN IN A BOWLING ALLEY HAVING AN AUTOMATIC PINSETTING MACHINE WHICH, UPON CYCLING ACTUATION, AFTER HAVING FIRST DEPOSITED A FULL FRAME OF TEN PINS, SENSES THE PRESENCE OF, AND PICKS UP, PINS LEFT STANDING, CLEARS FROM THE ALLEY ALL FALLEN PINS, AND THEN REDEPOSITS THE PINS TO THE RESPECTIVE POSITIONS FROM WHICH SUCH PINS WERE SO PICKED UP, SAID METHOD COMPRISING THE STEPS OF CAUSING THE SAID MACHINE TO BE CYCLED FIRST TO SET UP A FULL FRAME OF TEN PINS; SELECTIVELY TOPPLING, PRIOR TO BOWLING, ALL PINS NOT TO BE INCLUDED AMONG THOSE IN THE PIN OR COMBINATION OF PINS TO BE SET UP; CAUSING THE SAID MACHINE TO BE CYCLED TO PICK UP THE PINS REMAINING STANDING, SWEEPING THE TOPPLED PINS FROM THE ALLEY, AND REDEPOSITING THE PINS PICKED UP TO THEIR RESPECTIVE POSITIONS FROM WHICH THEY WERE PICKED UP.

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