US2772884A - Simulated bowling game device - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 4, 1956 R. H. GALBREATH 2,772,884

SIMULATED BOWLING GAME DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 14, 1953 De- 4, 1956 R. H. GALBRl-:ATH 2,772,384

SIMULATED BOWLING GAME DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 14. 1953 /3 KCA 7 if 37 *mira-542g;

` INVENTOR. 4/

Unitedd States Patent() d l 2,772,884 t SIMULATED BOWLING GAME DEvIcE Robert Harvey GalbreatlyDenver, Colo. V.tlmilicatimn september 14, 1953s'eriai 10,379,841

i tlclai'ms.` (ctms-127i ,Y Y

This invention relates'toa bowling game, and has for its principal object the lprovision of a single, unitary game device which can^be1usedupon a ioor or lawn for simulating a conventional bowling alley.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bowling game inwhich a player rolls two bowling balls by hand, similar to 4the usual game of .bowling or ten pins, and to provide a game devicefwhich will act to extinguish lights to represent the pins which are knocked down by the balls. p

A further object is to provide a bowling game device of this character 'in which lighted targets represent the pins remaining standing after a ballis bowled, to indicate to the bowler the proper position to direct his second ball.

` A still further object `is to provide a bowling device withl anvindicating target which when struck by a ball will act to multiply the score obtained by the other ball. t

struction of the invention, which is designed for simplicity, economy, and efficiency.' These will become more apparent from the following description.

In the following detailed descriptionv of the invention, reference is had tothe' accompanying4 drawing which forms a` part hereof. Like `numerals refer to `like parts in all views of thevdrawing and throughout the description.

In the drawing: 1 f i Fig. `l is afront View of the improved lawnbowling game;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged end View thereof;

Fig. 3 is a still further enlarged cross-section, taken on` the line 3 3,Y Fig. l;vv 1

Fig. 4 is a rear view thereof on the same scale as Fig. l, partially broken away toA show interior construction;

Fig. 5 is a wiringA diagram4 illustrating the yarrangement ofthe electric circuits employed in the improved game device; and t `Fig. 6 is a simplified circuit diagram, illustrating the basic electric circuits employed in the game device.

In Fig. 5 the circles indicate electric lamps. For the purpose of simplification, the circuit from a supply main to one side only of each lamp is illustrated in thediagram. It is to be understood that the other side of each lamp is vconnected to a second supplymai'n common to alllampsjk [While the game is4 particularly intended as a lawn t 'bowling gameyitis, ofcourse, not limited to this parballs are rolled 'toward` yarrelongated,housingl Other objects and advantagesfreside in the detail con-'-` supporting brackets 13. The elongated housing is pro- Y vided with a relatively thin oor 14 having an inclined,

beveled forward edge 15 which directs the balls onto the ioor 14.

The housing is provided with a backing 16 provided with a plurality of spaced-apart window openings 17 along its lower portion. A stop strip 18 extends along the backing 16 and is preferably provided with a cushion strip 19 of sponge rubber or similar material for absorbing the impact of the balls 23.

A vertically-moving hinged ap 20 is positioned over each of the window openings 17 throughout the length of the housing 11. The forward extremities of the aps Z0 are hinged to and below a casing strip 21 upon any suitable hinges 22. The rear extremities of the aps 20 rest upon the stop strip 18.

The casing strip 21 is rabbeted to receive a plurality of aligned micro-switches, there being one of the switches above the medial portion of each of the ilaps 20, as indicated at S10 in Fig. 3. These switches are of any standard variety having a spring-projected operating knob 24 which, when forced into the switch acts to break or make i of suitable screws 25.

The upswing of the flaps 20 is limited by means of a limit strip 26 secured to the backing 16. A wiring channel 27 is provided along the backing 26 for receiving the electrical circuit wires of the device. Wiring openings 48 communicate with the wiring channel 27.

The flaps 20 are constantly urged downwardly against the stop strip 18 by gravity and by the spring-actuated knobs 24 of the micro-switches. Should additional urging be desired, springs 47 may be provided to react against and urge the flaps downwardly. The flaps 20 are positioned relative to the floor 14 so that when a ball 23 passes beneath a ap 20, it will swing the latter upwardly suciently far to contact the operating knob 24 of the adjacent micro-switch to operate the latter. It is preferred to position the limit strip 26 so that it will act to stop the upward movement of the extremity of the ap 20 slightly before the balls 23 strike the stop strip 18 so as to create a wedging action between the floor and the flap to retard the flight of the ball.

It is desired to call attention to the fact that the sharpened forward edge 15 of the oorl 14 terminates rearwardly of the forward face of the casing strip 21 so that the ball will have entered beneath its flap 20 before it is forced upwardly onto the floor 14.

A light chamber 28 is positioned to the rear of each of the window openings 17. The light chambers 28 are separated from each other by means of light impervious partitions 38 and each light chamber contains an electric target lamp carried in a suitable lamp socket 29. The lamps are positioned above the windows 17 to be somewhat distant from the impact point of the ball to prevent breakage of the electric lamps.

The bottom of each light chamber 28 may be provided with an inclined reiiecting surface 30, preferably covered with light-reflecting bead paint to reflect the light from the lamps forwardly through the window openings 17. Access is had to the light chambers 28 through the medium of rear doors 31 depending from hinges 32 and secured by means of suitable latches 33.

In the preferred game device, there are eleven of the window openings 17 and eleven of the flaps 20. The flaps `are placed in` close proximity to each other so as to provide a substantially continuous inclined ceiling over A V-the ball-receiving portion of the housing 1,1 I p The score-indicating boardA 12 is mounted in a suit.- able enclosing frame 34 having a removable back 35. The board 12 is provided with ten openings in triangula; arrangement, similar to thev arrangement of the setting-ofbowling pins. Each of these openings is. pro- Yided witha lamp-receiving socket 36,l preferably of` the type known as sign sockets which can be attached through openings in a supporting member. An electric signal lamp is positioned in each socket 36.

In addition to the ten triangularly-arranged sockets, two additional sockets are provided, one for supporting a colored strike or spare indicating lamp, indicated by the letter S and a double indicating lamp, indicated by the letter D. An electrical receptacle 37 is provided at one extremity of the housing 11 to receive an electrical conductor cord for conveying` current to the game apparatus. Y

The game is Wired according to the schematic circuit diagram of Fig. 6, wherein the lamps in the light chambers 28 are designated by the numerals 1 to 1t), inclusive.

rl`he number used to designate each lamp will indicate the numbervof lamps extinguished at the time any given lamp is extinguished, as will be later described.

The lamps in the score-indicating board 12 are indicated on the diagram by the prime numbers from 1 to 10, each prime-numbered lamp corresponding to one of the non-prime-numbered lamps. In other words, the number 6 lamp will illuminate and extinguish simultaneously with the number 6 lamp. The lamp in the furthermost light chamber to the right will be indicated by the letter D which functions in cooperation with the lamp D on the score board 12.

The micro-switch associated with each pair of lamps will be herein designated by a number corresponding to the number of the lamps it controls and preceded by the letter S, thus, micro-switch S2 will control lamps 2 and 2. The micro-switch controlling lamp D will be herein designated as SD.

Each pair of lamps from 1 to 10 is connected through the medium of connecting wires 39 to a rst current supply main 40. The lamps S, D, and D are connected by means of a connecting wire 46 to the current supply main 40. Micro-switch S is connected to a second current supply main 41. switch S10 to micro-switch S9, thence to micro-switch S8, and continues through each successive micro-switch by4 means of interconnecting switch wires 42 and microswitch S1 is reached.

Thus all of the micro-switches from S1 to S10 are in series with each other. are of the normally closed type which open a circuit when pressure is applied to the knob 24. The far side of each micro-switch Sl thru S10 is connected in multiple by means of a lamp wire 43 to the two lamps designated by the same number as the respective micro-switch.

Micro-switch S10 is of the double-throw variety, that is, it is provided with make contacts as well as break contacts. The make Contact of micro-switch S10 is connected to the colored strike lamp S. The microswitch SD is of the normally open variety, as opposed to the other switches, and 4acts to close a circuit through a lamp wire 44 communicating with the double lamp D.

Let us assume that a player rolls a ball 23 toward the housing 11, and that this ball strikes the flap 20 below micro-switch S9, as indicated in Fig. l. causes the ap to swing upwardly to actuate its microswitch S9 so as to break the circuit immediately ahead yof lamps 9 and 9. This stops the ow of current to all of the lamps except 10 and 10', as can be seen from a study of Fig. 6. The only light remaining on the score board 1-2'is 10'. Nine lamps have been extinguished on the score `board 12 :and the only window openings 17 remaining illuminated are those below lamp 10 and below lamp D. The score isn-ine.

The current flows from micro-V Tne micro-switches S1 thru S10 This.

envases The. player` Garinow choose, whether to roll toward the window illuminated byv lamp 10 or toward the window illuminated by lamp D., Should he roll to the former window opening, the ball will extinguish lamps 10 and 10', giving a score of ten. Should he roll to the window below lamp D, the ball will cause the ap 20 thereover to close microrswiteh-SD and illuminate lamp D', which will indicate he may double his original score of nine to producea score of eighteen.

Should his roll toward. the' window below lamp 10 be successful, it will cause the double-throw micro-switch S10 to close a circuit, through wire 45v tox the spare and strike indicating IampSto indicate he has obtained either a spare'or a strike depending upon whether it was the first `or second ball. The spare or strike will be scored similarly to the usual bowling scoring rules.

It is preferred to use .colored lamp: bulbs for the lamps S, D, and D', and to. use white lamps for the remaining lamps. If the lamps, S1 and D .are colored, they will not visibly interfere withthe white triangle formed on the score board by the ten. white lamps. If the lamp D is colored, Sit .will not visibly interfere. with the ten whiteli-ghtedwindow openings simulating the ten bowling pins.

kIt is preferred. to-.forrn the. aps from a relatively stiff yet exible material, such as tempered Masonite, so that they may ex to retard the impact of the balls.

In the following claims..thef nonrprimefnumbered lamps in the light chambers 28a/.ill be `referred to as target lamps, and the prime-nutriberedl lamps: will be referred to as. signal lamps. The imaginary cubicle before each window opening 17 and below each ap 20 will be referred to` in the claims, as, a ballrreceiving chamber, and the Window: openings 17 will be referred to as targets.

While a specific form of the improvement has been described and illustrated herein, it is desired to be understood that the same .maybevar-ed, within the scope of the appendedV claims, without departing from Vthe spirit of the invention.

Having thus described `the invention, what is claimed and desired secured. by Letters Patentis:

l. A simulatedl bowling" game comprising: an elongated housing adapted to be positioned :transversally of the path of a rolling ball; a plurality of aligned illuminated target windows in said housing; an elongated open-fronted, ball-receiving chamber positioned forwardly of said windows; a oor in said chamber; a plurality of hinged aps forming the ceiling over said ballfreceiving chamber, there being one lof saidaps: positioned forwardly of and above each window, said flaps being positioned relative to said door so. that when said ball rolls onto said door, it will wedge between the door and. one of said tiaps so as to force the flap upwardly; signal lamps; and an electric switch positioned to. be actuatedl in consequence of the upward .movement of .each of' ,saidv flaps, .each of said switches being in circuit with one of said signal lamps s0 as to give an indication whenthe ap associated therewith is swung upwardly. Y

2. A simulated' bowling igame .as described in claim 1 having a target illuminating each -of said windows, eachV of said target .lamps being; in `circuit with the switch associatedv with the Hap-.positioned forwardly of its respective window, said vswitches being normally closed so that when a ap is moved upwardly under the wedging action of said ball, its associated switch will be opened to simultaneously extinguish .both the target lamp andthe signallamp in circuit. with the latter switch.

3. A simulated bowling game. as described vin claim 2 in which all of the switches are connected in series so that the openingl of any ,given switch .will de-energize the succeeding switches inf said Seriesl |and their associated signal and target lamps.. e

4. AV simulated boviilngggame comprising; anelongated housing uadapted to beV positioned transversa'lly of the path of a rolling ball; an elongated open-fronted, ball-receiving chamber in the front of Isaid housing; a plurality of longitudinally aligned lamp chambers in the rear of said housing; a window communicating between each llamp chamber and said ball-receiving chamber; a target lamp in each lamp chamber illuminating the window therein; a plurality of inclined flaps; hinge means hingedly mounting the forward extremities of said flaps to said housing above the open front thereof, there being one of said flaps positioned above and forwardly of each window to form a substantially continuous ceiling over said chamber; a oor in said ball-receiving chamber, the vertical distance between eaeh flap and said floor being normally less than the diameter of said ball so that when a ball enters on said lloor, it will urge the flap thereover upwardly; and a normally closed electric switch positioned to be actuated by each liap, each of said switches being in circuit with one of said target lamps so that when one of said flaps is urged upwardly by said ball, its associated windo will be darkened. Y

5. A simulated bowling game as described in claim 4 having a score board positioned above said housing; and a plurality of signal lamps supported on said score board, said lamps being arranged in triangular arrangement similar to the conventional setting of bowling pins, said signal lamps being also in circuit with said switches so that the extinguishment of a given target llamp will simultaneously extinguish one of said signal lamps in said triangular arrangement.

6. A simulated bowling game comprising: a housing having an open front adapted to receive a rolled ball, said housing being elongated transversely of the path of said ball, said front opening extending the full width of said housing; a backing in said housing provided with a plurality of spaced window openings; a lamp chamber positioned rearwardly of each window opening; a target lamp in each chamber illuminating the window opening circuit-opening device positioned to be contacted and actuated by the upward movement of each ilap, each of said circuit-opening devices being in circuit with one of saidlamps so that upward movement of anyap will darken the window opening positioned rearwardly thereof; and a oor tixedly mounted in said housing and positioned to receive a ball and retain the latter in wedged relation to one of said flaps.

7. A simulated bowling game as described in claim 6 in which the forward edge of said oor is positioned rearwardly of the forward hinged extremities of said flaps.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 331,756 Baker Dec. 8, 1885 1,656,739 Kurtz Ian. 17, 1928 2,019,126 Fey Oct. 29, 1935 2,223,255 Koci Nov. 26, 1940 2,300,402 Beach Nov. 3, 1942 2,455,012 King Nov. 3.0, 1948 2,601,552 Niewinski June 24, 1952Y 2,652,252 Alexander Sept. 15, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS Switzerland Nov'. 16, 1932

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