US2811892A - Bowling alley scoring and timing projector device - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 5, 1957 R. 1.. HOLLOWAY BOWLING ALLEY SCORING AND TIMING PROJECTOR DEVICE 3Sheets-Sh0et 1 Filed D60. 23, 1954 INVENTOR ROBERT L. HOLLOWAY BY ATTQNEY Nov. 5, 1957 R. 1.. HOLLOWAY BOWLING ALLEY SCORING AND TIMING PROJECTOR DEVICE Filed Dec. 23, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTR ROBERT L. HOLLOWAY Novf5, 1957 R. 1.. HOLLOWAY 2,311,892

BOWLING ALLEY SCORING AND TIMING PROJECTOR DEVICE Filed Dec. 23, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR ROBERT L. HOLLOWAY ATTONEY United States Patent BOWLING ALLEY SCORING AND TIMING PROJECTOR DEVICE Robert L. Holloway, Snyder, N. Y., assignor to American Machine & Foundry Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application December 23, 1954, Serial No. 477 ,356

Claims. (Cl. 8824) This invention relates to a bowling score device, and more particularly to a bowling score projecting device provided with means for informing one or more players, and/ or spectators and alley managers of the progress each player is making during the course of playing the game, and to relate this progress to a norm for such progress.

The present invention is operative to project bowling scores written or printed by a score keeper on a bowling score card or sheet mounted on a stand at the head end of an alley for projection onto a screen located preferably above the alley and some distance from the playing position where it is visible to the players, spectators, manager and the score keeper. It is well known that from time to time during the course of playing the game, some of the players may be inattentive to the play, and the game drags because they are not ready to bowl on time. When this occurs, time is lost which could otherwise be of productive value to a proprietor. Accordingly the present invention covers the provision of means which visibly informs all players when the game starts and the progress being made during the course of play, with specific reference to the elapse of time. As the result of my invention, players obtain greater enjoyment of the game, and higher scores. Where pin boys are used for setting pins, they do their jobs in a more efficient manner. Furthermore, in league play, games start and finish according to schedule, alleys can be kept cleaner because of availability of time for cleaning between matches played by succeeding teams, and proprietors are more satisfied because of the efficient use of time and the resulting greater income.

In a preferred form of the invention, there is provided an optical projecting device which projects the score from a score pad onto a screen located above and down the alley. Also associated with the optical projecting device is a moving transparency or means for indicating the passage of time on the projected representation of the score sheet. This may be done in any suitable manner, as by a moving light beam of a selected size and shape or shadow which is adapted to travel from left to right until finally when the tenth frame shall have been played, the projection of the time indicator moves to the extreme right of the projected score pad.

in normal league play when there are two sets of five players each playing on adjoining alleys, it is customary for a game to last about forty minutes. Accordingly in accordance with the invention, there is provided a moving projected time indicator which travels at such a rate that in moving from the extreme left to the extreme right of the projected score pad, forty minutes, more or less, lapse. If less than five players play, the timing period can be adjusted so that, depending upon the number of players playing the game, the projected time indicator moves from the extreme left to the extreme right of the score pad in the desired amount of time.

Where used herein, the term projected time indicator is intended to mean a suitable shadow cast by an opaque element forming a part of the time indicating system, or a projected light beam of suitable size and shape which is Cir a! projected and moved during the course of play of a game progressively and continuously across the projected representation of a score sheet or card.

-t is an object of the invention to provide an improved bowling score projecting device having means for apprizing players, spectators and manager of the progress of the It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel score projecting device having associated therewith means for informing players and spectators of the progress the players are making during the course of play of the game, and also making it apparent that undue delay is being caused by one or more players if the time indicating means travels beyond the column in which figures are being entered.

It i a further object of the invention to provide an improved scoring device having associated therewith signalling means for informing players that they are delaying the game unduly.

The invention also contemplates the provision of automatic means for indicating the progress of the bowling game, and for adjusting the movement of the indicating means in accordance with the number of players playing, said means being further adjustable to vary the time allowed for any given number of players.

With these and other object not specifically mentioned in view, the invention consists in certain combinations and constructions which will be described fully hereinafter, and then set forth in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which like characters of reference indicate the same or like parts:

Fig. l is an isometric view illustrating one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a rear view of the score projecting device made in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 3 is an isometric view showing the invention and illustrating somewhat in detail the light beam scanning device and the optical system associated therewith;

Fig. 3a is a perspective view showing a modified form of time indicating means; and

Fig. 4 is a side elevation showing a modified form of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, and especially Figs. 1 and 2, it will be seen that the score projecting device, and the timing mechanism associated therewith are mounted in a suitable casing, designated 10. Casing 10 is supported on uprights or standards 12, suitably attached to pad supporting table 16. Score pad supporting table 16 is mounted on a standard 18 having an enlarged base 20. Score pad 22 is held positioned on table 16 by a suitable clamp bracket 24 of conventional design.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3, mounted within casing 10 is a suitable optical system which is provided with conventional lenses and mirrors for scanning the score pad 22. The scanning range of the scanner lens 23 of the optical system is indicated in broken lines 28 in Figs. 1 and 2. Any suitable conventional scanning-projecting device may be used. For example, a Taylor spot light opaque projector may be used.

It is essential that in the scanning and projecting device used, the light, lens and mirror system be capable of not only scanning the score pad as indicated in Fig. l, but also being able to project the entire indicia of the score pad 22 onto a screen 30 suitably mounted down the alley, or at a point somewhere intermediate between the end of the bowling alley and the players position. Screen 30 is so mounted that it is above the line of play of the alley and therefore offers no obstruction or abstraction to a bowlers complete enjoyment of the game.

As shown in Fig. 2, light rays 15 are projected downwardly from light sources 14 in casing 16 onto score pad. 22. Reflected light from score pad 22 is collected and projected by means of a suitable optical system including lens 23, objective lens 36, and mirror 26, onto screen 36 as indicated in broken lines 23 and 32, whereby the entire indicia on the score pad 22 is made visible to those who are observing screen 36 from the players end of the alley. It will be seen that as each individual bowlers score is noted on score pad 22, it will be visible on screen 30 by means of this projecting system described hereinabove.

In playing the game of bowling, and especially in league play where large numbers of people congregate and each team is composed of five players, considerable time may be lost with a commensurate loss in income to the bowling alley proprietor, unless each player is aware of the fact that he should play in more or less of a timed operation. Thus in order to prevent undue delay caused by capriciousness or other acts on the part of bowlers, and to let all members of respective teams or all players become aware of the passing of time and the desire to maintain a progressive play which actually contributes to the enjoyment of the game since it has the etfect of increasing the rhythm of play, I have provided means for indicating the passage of time which forms an important part of this invention.

One form of the invention embodying the indication of the passage of time is disclosed in Fig. 3. In this figure, the casing has been removed to disclose an endless flexible member 40 which is provided with rows of perforations 42 at the top and bottom, which perforations are adapted to be engaged progressively by means of teeth 44 on sprockets 46.

In the illustrated embodiment, endless member or belt 40 is disclosed as having a substantially quadrilateral path of movement. It will be understood that it could also take some other path, such for instance as elliptical or circular. Referring more especially to endless member or belt 40, it will be seen that it may consist of a top strap 48 and a bottom strap 50 in which perforations 42 are provided. Attached to the straps 48 and 59 are lengths 52 and 54 of a flexible material, such for example as plastic. This plastic may be cellulose acetate, a polyethylene film, or any other suitable plastic which is flexible and which will not bend or warp because of the presenceof some heat in the enclosing container 16. A line of demarkation 56 separates transparent tinted areas of flexible members 52 and 54, one being, say red, and the other, green. Any other color combination could be used. Because of the difference in the colors of the two strips or lengths 52 and 54, it will be seen that where they are joined together, there will be a. line of demarkation projected on the screen 36. In a case where an elongated opaque member connects strips 52 and 54, a line of demarkation 56 will be an opaque projected line.

The indicia projected through lens 36 onto screen 36 through belt 40 will appear tinted on screen 36 in accordance with the positioning of line 56. The line 56 positioning is controlled by tooth sprockets 46 which in turn are positioned by a suitable standard timing motor, such as a conventional type of adjustable timing motor, or other suitable device. It will be apparent that suitable adjustment of timing motor 62 will cause the color line of demarkation 56 to progress across the projected score pad at the anticipated proper rate of progress of the game, thus suitably reminding the bowler of deviation from such rate. Timing motors are also available, which automatically reset to zero after a desired lapse of time. 7 This type of timing motor therefore could be used to reset automatically the time indication for the succeeding game.

Referring to Fig. 3a, an equally satisfactory time indication may be achieved by employing a belt assembly designated 1% which may or may not be tinted, or by eliminating the flexible transparent material between members 57 which are positioned vertically, as was line 56 in Figure 3, and equally spaced along the length of straps 48 and 5% When suitably adjusted, the speed of motor 62 will cause the plurality of equally spaced vertical opaque members 57 to successively traverse the optical view of lens 36, thus casting a shadow on screen 36 as a passage of time indication. Here, color is not involved and no reset is required for the succeeding game, because the spacing between members 57 is so arranged that the projected image of one member 57 moves on the projected image of the score sheet on screen 3% The image of the next member 57 is located in proper position on screen 36 for the next game.

In the embodiments shown in Figures 1 to 3 and 4, the reset position of the belt 49 is so determined that the projected image of the line of demarcation 56 is located to the left of the first scoring column 31 of the projected score sheet 22 on screen 36 at the beginning of a bowling game. At the end of the game belt 4% has moved to such an extent that line 56 is located adjacent the right edge of the projected image of score pad 22 or to the right of the last column containing the total scores of the players. When line 56 reaches this latter position, the travel of belt 44 is interrupted by the stoppage of motor 62.

Referring to Fig. 3, it will be seen that the output drive shaft 64 of motor 62 is connected by a cut coupling 66 of conventional design. Cut coupling is normally maintained in operative relationship by means of a spring 70 encircling shaft 68 which mounts two of the sprockets 46, these being the driving sprockets. The three other sets of sprockets 46 are mounted on idler shafts suitably supported in the base 11 of casing 10. As indicated in Fig. 2, the top end of shaft 68 is provided with a knob 72 attached thereto in order that at the end of a game, the score keeper may pull up on shaft 68 which is slidably splined to sprockets 46 so that on turning the shaft 68 in the direction of arrow B, belt member 40 may be moved to the left, as in Fig. 3, and reset at its zero position l, as viewed in Fig. 1. Power for motor 62 is fun nished by any suitable exterior source of power designated generally 39. By means of adjustment provisions in the Haydon type timing devices and/or rheostats or record play type speed changers, the speed of the time indicating device and the period of operation can be varied in order to conform with the number of players rolling on a particular bowling alley. Thus if one player is playing the game, the point of knob 84 will be turned to position indicated 1. In this case, the transit of the line of demarkation 56 from left to right, as viewed in Fig. 1, will be approximately 8 minutes, which is the normal rolling time for a single player. In the same manner by ad justing the position of knob 84 to positions 2, 3, 4 and 5, the increased periods of time are afforded for the transit of the image 60 of time indicator member 56 across screen 30.

It will be noted that in Fig. 3,- a switch 86 is indicated for closing the circuit through motor 62 in order to start the operation or the movement of belt member 40. If desired, the leads of the motor 62 may be connected to a control system (not shown) of a bowling pin spotting machine, such as that indicated in Broekhuysen Patent 2,559,274, so that when a ball or the first ball of a game arrives in the pit of a bowling alley (not shown), the circuit through motor 62 is closed and belt member 40 begins to operate. Here again, as in the case described directly above where motor 62 is started manually, the position of knob 84 is set in accordance with the number of players rolling the game. Motor 62 continues in operation until the end of the predetermined period, when it stops, depending upon the number of players.

As a visual means for apprizing a player of the progress of his game, or for informing a team of the progress they are making, the speed of movement of belt 40 is so set that the average time of rolling a game or frame is taken into consideration. If there is an undue delay in the playing of the game, the shadow line of time indication will move ahead or to the right of the filled in score columns on score screen 30, or the line of color demarcation will be similarly positioned, thus indicating to the players that they are not keeping up with the game. On the other hand, if the shadow line of time indication or the line of color demarcation shows to the left of the filled in score columns, it will be an indication that the play of the game is progressing in accordance with, or less than, average timing and that the game will be finished on. time and that all parties will be satisfied with the progress of playing the game.

The score projecting device shown in the modification illustrated in Fig. 4 may be similar in construction and operation to that disclosed in Coker Patent 2,381,269. The objective lens housing, however, is essentially the same as that disclosed in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, in that it is provided with a time lapse indicating mechanism designated generally 152 which may be similar in construction and operation to that disclosed in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 3a. As indicated at 172, there is provided a resetting device which functions in the same manner as elements 72, described hereinabove.

In the modified form illustrated in Fig. 4, there is provided a stand designated generally 110 recessed at 111 to accommodate the feet of the score keeper when he is seated in score keeping position. The top of stand 1!) is formed with a table 112 provided with a translucent panel 114 fitted into a suitable opening formed in table 112. Panel 114 provides a suitable writing surface on which a score card of sheet 115 bearing the conventional bowling score indicia, may be placed and held by clips 117, as indicated in Fig. 4, so that the projector which is of a suitable conventional type, may project the score by means of objective lens 136 onto screen 30.

Suitably mounted within stand 110 is a light socket bracket 118 which provides a support for an electric bulb 12 .5 to furnish the source of light. A concave reflector 122 is positioned directly below bulb 120, reflector 122 being suitably supported on a bracket 124 attached to stand 110. Any suitable conventional system of optics may be used in the projecting device. A pair of lenses 121, 121, comprising a condensor system, is secured in frames 126 suitably secured to the interior of stand 110. It will be seen that light from bulb 120 passing through lenses 121 will project an image of the score card into housing 128 suitably mounted on standards 129 attached to table 112. The rays of light passing through score card 115 are received on a mirror 130, and directed thereby through objective lens 136 onto a screen, such as screen 38 mounted above the alley, shown in Fig. 1. As stated hereinabove, located within housing 128 is a time lapse indicating mechanism 152 which may be the same as that disclosed in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 3a. The operation of this structure, shown in Fig. 4, is exactly the same as that disclosed in the form of invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, and 3a.

What I claim is:

l. A bowling alley score projecting and timing apparatus comprising a support, means mounting a bowling score sheet on said support, a screen, a score projecting device mounted on said support, said device including an optical system and a source of light associated therewith for projecting a beam of light containing an image of said score sheet onto said screen showing the frame to frame score made by the players, a movable time indicating signalling element operatively associated with said device, means for moving said element in said beam of light to project a moving image of said signalling element on said screen to indicate the passage of time, and timing means controlling the rate of movement of said signalling element.

2. A bowling alley score projecting and timing apparatus comprising a support, means mounting a bowling score sheet on said support, a screen, a projecting device mounted on said support, said device including a source of light and an optical scanning and projecting system for scanning and projecting an image of said score sheet on said screen, a movable time indicating signalling element operatively associated with said device, means for moving said element substantially at right angles to said source of light projecting said image of said score sheet on said screen to superimpose an image of said element on said projected image of said score sheet on said screen.

3. A bowling alley score projecting and timing apparatus comprising a support, means mounting a bowling score sheet on said support, a screen, a score projecting device mounted on said support, said device including an optical system having an objective lens and a source of light associated therewith for projecting an image of said score sheet onto said screen, a movable lapse of time signalling element operatively associated with said device, means for moving said lapse of time signalling element relative to said objective lens to project a moving image of said signalling element across saidprojected image of said score sheet on said screen, and timing means for adjusting the rate of movement of said signalling element to apprise players of the progress they are making in playing the game.

4. A bowling alley scoring and timing apparatus comprising an image receiving screen, a support for a score pad, a source of light, an optical system receiving light from said source of light and projecting an image of said score pad by diverging rays of light on said screen, a timing element, means mounting said timing element for movement substantially normal to said rays of light to project an image on said element on said image of said score pad on said screen, means for moving said element, and timing means controlling the rate of movement of said element and said projected image thereof on said screen to apprise a player of the progress he is making in accordance with a predetermined frame by frame rate of play of the game.

5. The apparatus defined in claim 4, wherein said timing element includes means for locating said timing element so that the projected image thereof at the beginning of a bowling game is at the left of the first scoring column, and wherein said means for moving said element includes means for stopping the movement of said projected image of said element adjacent the right end of the projected image of said score pad at the end of said game.

6. A bowling alley scoring and timing apparatus comprising a screen, a bowling score projecting device, including means for projecting a plurality of rays of light forming a projected image of a score sheet on said screen, a timing element, means mounting said element for movement across said rays for the projection of an image of said element on said screen, means normally positioning said element at the beginning of a game with said image of said element positioned to the left of the first column of the projected image of said score sheet, driving means for moving said element during the play of the game to travel said image of said element from the left to the right over the image of said projected score sheet, and means for adjusting the rate of movement of said element driving means to move the projected image thereof in accordance with a predetermined rate of play of the game, and the number of players playing the game.

7. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein said signalling element comprises an endless belt, a vertical beam of light interrupting member carried by said belt, and wherein said means for moving said member includes driving and driven means supporting said signalling element, and means for operating said driving means.

8. A bowling score projecting and timing apparatus comprising a screen, mechanism for projecting an image of a score sheet on said screen, mechanism for projecting a color area on said screen, and means for progressively increasing the color area projected on said screen over said projected image of said score sheet at a rate com- A 7 mensurate with a predetermined prescribed time of play per frame of the game of bowling.

9. The invention defined in claim 8 wherein said score sheet comprises a plurality of vertical scoring columns, each column indicating a frame or" play of the game of bowling and a movable transparent film, and wherein said last-named mechanism comprises means initially locating said color area to the left of the first scoring column, and said last-named means includes means for moving said film progressively to increase the area of color from left to right across said projected area of said score sheet on said screen, and means for stopping said last-named means when said projected color area covers the entire projected score sheet image.

10. A bowling score projecting and timing atus comprising a support, means mounting a .1 anslucent score card on said support, means for projecting light through said score card, including an optical system an objective lens for focussing a projected image of said score card on a screen, mechanism for projecting a color area on said screen,'and means for progressively increasing the color area projected on said screen over said projected image of said score card from one side to the other at a rate commensurate with a prescribed time of play per frame of the game of bowling.

11. A bowling alley score projecting and timing apparatus comprising a support for a bowling score sheet, a screen, a projecting device for projecting an upright image of said score sheet on said screen, said device including an optical system and a source of light coacting therewith, and a lapse of time signalling element for indicating on said projected image of said score sheet on said screen a preferred rate of play to be maintained by those playing the game, said signalling element including an endless belt composed of abutting lengths of flexible transparent strips of diiferent colors, having a line of joinder forming a line of demarcation, means mounting said belt in the path of rays of light to be projected on said screen with the color of one of said strips projected on said screen at the beginning of a game, and means for moving said belt to progressively advance the color of the other of said strips over said projected image of said score sheet on said screen in accordance with a predetermined optimum rate of play of the game, whereby players are visibly apprised that they are keeping up with or falling behind said predetermined optimum rate of play of said game.

12. The apparatus defined in claim 11, wherein said line of demarcation formed by the line of joinder of said colored strips is projected on said projected image of said score sheet, and forms a moving line of demarcation on said last-named image.

13. The invention defined in claim 11 including a timing motor for moving said belt, and said motor includes means for stopping its operation in response to the passage of a predetermined period of time.

14. The invention defined in claim 13 including means for resetting said line of demarcation of said colored strips pending the play of a succeeding game.

15. The invention defined in claim 13, including means for selectively controlling the period of operation of said motor in accordance with the number of players who are playing a game.

16. A bowling alley scoring and timing apparatus comprising a score card, a support for said score card, a screen a bowling score projecting device, including an optical system,a source of light located beneath said score card, optical means for projecting a plurality of rays of light through said score card to form a projected image 'of a score sheet on said screen, a timing element, means 'mov ably mounting said element for movement across said rays for for projecting an image of said element on said screen, means normally positioning said element at the be nning of a game with said image of said element positioned to the left of the first columns of the projected image of said score card, means for moving said element during the play of the game to travel said image of said element from the left to the right of the image of said projected score card, and means for controlling he rate of movement of said element and the projected n age thereof in accordance with a predetermined rate of play of the game, and the number of players playing the game.

17. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein said signalling element comprises an endless belt, a vertical member carried by said belt, and wherein said means for moving said member includes driving and driven means supporting said signalling element, a motor for operating said driving means, and selective means for controlling the period of operation of said motor.

18. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said signalling element comprises an endless conveyor, a plurality of substantially equidistantly spaced substantially vertical elements supported on said conveyor, driving and driven means mounting said conveyor for movement, a. motor for operating said driving means, means for operating said motor to move one of said elements across the rays of light projecting said score sheet on said screen in the course of playing a complete game of bowling, whereby said element casts a shadow on said image of said score sheet apprizing players of the progress each is making in playing the game in accordance with a predetermined optimum rate of play.

19. The apparatus defined in claim 18 wherein said conveyor comprises alternate strips of red and green transparent colored flexible material, said colors being operative to color the projected image and visibly indicate by increase and decrease of colored areas on said projected image of said score sheet, the proposed rate of play of the game as a comparison with the actual rate of play thereof.

20. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said source of light of said optical system is located beneath said support, and said system includes means for projecting light through a score card on said support.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,036,131 Mayer Aug. 20, 1912 1,052,835 Littman Feb. 11, 1913 1,129,693 Kurre Feb. 23, 1915 1,704,811 Stuber Mar. 12, 1929 2,061,378 Henze et al Nov. 17, 1936 2,250,174 Bancroft July 22, 1941 2,330,799 Coker et al Oct. 5, 1943 2,381,260 Coker Aug. 7, 1945 2,512,828 Collins July 27, 1950

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