Mechanical Projector Patents (Class 473/107)
  • Patent number: 9168450
    Abstract: A bowling game table featuring a lane surface having a bilaterally symmetrical trough on each side of the flat top surface. A ramp that swivels from side to side from which a ball is rolled will allow a person to “aim” a ball as he or she tries to strike a set of pins on the opposite end of the bowling game surface. In order to level the playing field among the players a handicap pin system has been provided. In order to improve the function of the game surface the top surface is reversible to display other games that may be played.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Inventor: Calvin James Stanford
  • Patent number: 9162135
    Abstract: A play tent has a tent body, a roof, and a game device board. The tent body has a ball opening. The roof is connected with the tent body and has a ball end moveable relative to the tent body to correspond to the top of the tent body or the ball opening. The game device board is mounted on the tent body. When the ball end is moved to a position corresponding to the ball opening, a child can pitch a ball towards the game device board, and then the ball rolls to the ball opening, such that the child can pitch the ball again. When the ball end is moved to a position corresponding to the top of the tent body, the child can be engaged in other activities inside the tent body. Therefore, the play tent can provide multiple functions for use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: D.J. TOYS ENTERPRISE CORP.
    Inventor: Li-Yang Niu
  • Patent number: 8684857
    Abstract: A method for bowling a ball typically in ten pin bowling using apparatus (10) in which a ball (15) is supported to movable support means typically a roller (23) which is rotatably driven by a motor (26) whilst the ball is restrained in a substantially fixed position with the apparatus (10) including a stop (29) which may be actuated to release the rotating ball (15) to allow said ball to travel in a desired direction of travel along an elongated guide member or barrel (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Inventors: David Leonard Buckley, Allan Paton
  • Patent number: 8088017
    Abstract: A system and method for graphically and statistically analyzing and predicting the motion of a bowling ball. In one embodiment, the system includes an automatic precision ball thrower, a computer aided tracking system (“C.A.T.S.”), and a computing device. Certain static properties of the bowling ball are recorded as independent variables. The automatic precision ball thrower is used to throw the bowling ball down the lane a number of times and the C.A.T.S. records various dynamic characteristics of its path. This data is received by the computing device which uses it to calculate a plurality of dependent variables associated with the path of the bowling ball. The computing device relates the independent variables to the dependent variables using multivariable regression analysis, yielding a set of equations which can be used to predict the dependent variables (or dynamic characteristics) of a second bowling ball given a set of independent variables (or static characteristics of the second bowling ball).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: United States Bowling Congress, Inc.
    Inventors: Neil B. Stremmel, Robert V. Roloff, Nick A. Siefers, Paul J. Ridenour, James E. Jaryszak
  • Publication number: 20110009201
    Abstract: The Adapt-A-Bowl is a lightweight and durable device that is easily transported to various locations including but not limited to schools, hospitals, daycare centers, and homes. This ease of transport increases the access of individuals with moderate to severe disabilities who use wheelchairs and gait trainers to participate in a variety of sporting activities. The supportive legs creating the angle of descent are collapsible and fit into the upper handle, lever and ramp assembly. The upper lever and ramp assembly are designed to house a lightweight ball which is set on a lever system and activated by the handle. The lower ramp assembly finalizes the length of the ramp to send the ball down the ramp. The key advantage to this device is its portability and three-piece assembly which all fit into a carrying bag.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2009
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Inventors: JOSEPH MATTHEW STANISLAWSKI, ADAM JOSEPH STANISLAWSKI
  • Patent number: 7374169
    Abstract: A table parlour game particularly a turbo-bowling comprising a turbo player unit (1), bowling pins (2) and a lane plate tilting to any direction (3). The turbo player unit (1) is a whirling top, namely a conical solid of rotation, the plate (1/a) of which is shaped to have a regular hexagonal pattern and furthermore equipped with a rotating tail (1/b) and tip (1/c) and the lane plate (3) is equipped by setting device (4) comprising centrally attached globe head (4/a) and globe shell (4/b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Inventor: József Szilágyi
  • Patent number: 7063622
    Abstract: A bowling lane system for enhancing the entertainment when bowling. The bowling lane system includes a lane member having a pair of gutter portions extending a length of the lane member whereby the gutter portion are positioned on opposing sides of the lane member. The top surface of the lane member is designed for supporting a bowling ball and pins. The lane member has a deflection assembly. The ball deflection assembly is designed for deflecting the bowling ball towards the pins when the bowling ball is rolled along a top surface of the lane member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Inventor: Douglas J. Luoma
  • Patent number: 6475096
    Abstract: An “S” shaped ramp that attaches to the lap area of a wheelchair and allows a person in the wheelchair to participate in the sport of bowling. An upper portion of the ramp releaseably attaches to the wheelchair and provides the bowler with a flat portion on which she can rest a bowling ball, before pushing the ball down the ramp for continued travel down a bowling alley. The flat upper portion of the ramp may be equipped with a “stop” or “rest” area that stops or holds the bowling ball. The stop area can be an indentation or a small “speed bump” that extends across the width of the upper portion. The ball can be placed in many different locations on the upper portion and stop area, thereby allowing the bowler to choose one from among many rolling paths for their bowling ball. The selection of rolling paths is limited by the width of the ramp, which may be two to three feet for example, and the direction in which the wheelchair faces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Inventor: Jeanne M. Nickolai
  • Patent number: 6379257
    Abstract: A bowling ball thrower includes a frame positionable adjacent to a bowling lane, a throwing arm pivotably attached to the frame, the throwing arm having a rest position and a pivoted position and including a ball-gripping mechanism for gripping a bowling ball, and a cocking arm pivotably attached to the frame, the cocking arm being selectively couplable to the throwing arm such that the cocking arm is pivotable with the throwing arm. A method for throwing a bowling ball includes holding the bowling ball with a ball thrower having a throwing arm and a cocking arm, and coupling the throwing arm to the cocking arm. The method also includes pivoting the throwing arm to a pivoted position to achieve a velocity, uncoupling the throwing arm from the cocking arm, and releasing the bowling ball such that the bowling ball moves at the velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: American Bowling Congress, Inc.
    Inventors: Jim Skleba, Kak Nanthavong, Doug Jacobs, Roger Case
  • Patent number: 6042482
    Abstract: A collapsible ramp construction 10 for physically challenged bowlers and including a contoured ramp unit 11 supported by a collapsible framework unit 12. The upper end of the ramp unit 11 is provided with a ball release unit 13 which includes a ball receiving member 40 operatively associated with an actuator member 46, wherein movement of the actuator member 46 will releasably engage a bowling ball 100 from the ball receiving member 40.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Inventor: Joseph A. Wilds
  • Patent number: 6019095
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for throwing balls with specific throwing parameters with the aid of a pendulum. The device consists of a pendulum having a free end which is suspended so as to be movable about an axis, characterized in that a holding device for the ball is located at the free end of the pendulum shaft and can release the ball in response to an electrical signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Assignees: Bayer Aktiengesellschaft, Bayer Corporation, Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Klaus Sommer, John Clemons, Wolfgang Jacobsen, Ing Kurt Pirk, Arthur Zerbe, Werner Konig, Berthold Justen, Jurgen Giesselmann, William Wasserberger, Raymond Edwards
  • Patent number: 5478283
    Abstract: A bowling ball propulsion device including a frame that has a rear member to push a bowling ball forward in rolling engagement with the surface of a bowling lane and has two side members extending forward from the rear member. The side members are spaced apart far enough to embrace a bowling ball and to engage it only along opposite diametrical points. The frame is supported above the surface of the bowling lane by supports at the rear of the frame to permit the forward ends of the side members to be tipped down or up to control engagement of the frame with a bowling ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1995
    Inventor: E. Harold Hoblit